While the Covid-19 pandemic is ravaging communities across our country, the vast majority of the 42 million Americans who currently receive Food Stamps, or SNAP benefits, are not allowed to use them to shop for groceries online. Currently, only six states allow online purchases with benefits from the SNAP program. Of those, Alabama and Nebraska launched online shopping only in recent weeks as the coronavirus pandemic erupted. 

We are urging the USDA, and, more specifically, Brandon Lipps, the Deputy Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, to initiate and fast track the nationwide approval for the use of SNAP benefits for online ordering of grocery deliveries.

SNAP recipients include many people who are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of COVID-19, such as the elderly and people with chronic health conditions and disabilities. Enabling these people to purchase their groceries online, at least for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic, will greatly increase their safety and the safety of their families and neighbors, and will inevitably aid our country's efforts to curb the spread of this deadly virus through social distancing.

We are urging Brandon Lipps to reach out to all of the states who are not already running the EBT Online Purchasing Pilot and help facilitate the immediate implementation of the pilot. It's self-evident that by acting on this swiftly, the USDA will absolutely save lives - possibly tens of thousands of lives. Additionally, due to the shortage of delivery personnel for Walmart and Amazon who have been the main pilot partners in the 6 states already approved, it would be very helpful to implement a path for fast-track approval of smaller, local retailers for the program.

We urge Brandon Lipps and the other policy-makers at the USDA to do their parts as professionals conscientious citizens to help mitigate the deadly risk that vulnerable populations encounter on their trips to local stores - inside the stores or on public transportation. All they need is a safe and reliable way to accomplish the vital task of purchasing their groceries using their SNAP benefits. We hope this petition prompts immediate action and we thank you for your service.