More than 40 million Americans lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1, following a government shutdown. In response, Shipt has taken steps to support affected individuals by donating $100,000 to nonprofits and food banks in Alabama and waiving membership fees for SNAP members nationwide.
Food insecurity remains a significant issue in Alabama, where one in five adults and one in four children face challenges accessing enough food. The donation from Shipt is directed at central Alabama and the Birmingham area to help local organizations meet increased demand for meals.
Shipt has historically offered reduced memberships for SNAP recipients, which include free delivery on orders over $35. As of November 1, the company waived monthly membership fees for all SNAP members for two months.
“As a people-centric company, supporting our community is at the heart of Shipt’s business,” said Khadijah Abdullah, Shipt’s Vice President of Culture and Community. “Millions of Americans are wondering how they’ll be able to afford groceries, and Shipt wanted to help ease that burden. Shipt is proud to waive membership fees for our SNAP members and to increase our support for food banks and nonprofits in our hometown community.”
Research indicates that grocery delivery services can improve access to healthy foods. Shipt stated it will continue collaborating with partners to assess further ways of assisting SNAP recipients during this uncertain period.
Over the past four years, Shipt has provided more than 80 Community Impact & Innovation Grants totaling nearly $1.3 million, supplying over 2.8 million meals for more than 520,000 individuals facing food insecurity. Additionally, through its partnership with Feeding America, the company has donated over $1.5 million toward efforts aimed at distributing food and resources across the country.
For those seeking local food resources or wishing to support families in need, Feeding America offers information on nearby food banks at feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank or by calling 211. Donations can also be made directly through Feeding America’s Community Response Campaign or local food banks.
