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Hart's one of a handful of retailers in federal pilot program for SNAP clients

A local grocer is one of only a handful of retailers in the country picked for a new federal program designed to make SNAP benefits available online.

It’s a two-year pilot program for people who get benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Hart’s Local Grocers has been selected, along with companies like Amazon, Safeway and Shop Rite. The idea is the SNAP beneficiaries would be able to order groceries online.

Colleen Griffin-Underhill is general manager for Hart’s, and she says acceptance into this program is a big deal for them.

“We’re one of 7 stores in the country and the only single store and so we’re going to be able to bring something to Rochester before it’s available in other areas of the country and it’s going to allow people for the first time to use their SNAP benefits to pay for groceries or really anything online,” she told WXXI News.

Griffin-Underhill  says the program will likely prove popular with some people in the SNAP program, especially families with small children who can't easily leave the house to shop.

“We really are seeing that that’s a big portion of our current customers for delivery , so this is just going to allow people that have SNAP benefits to use them and be a part of that customer base.”

She says one significant advantage for SNAP recipients is that Hart’s will be able to provide home delivery of fresh produce. There has been a move to increase access to healthy items, such as produce, for low income people.

Federal officials are still working out the particulars involving any delivery charges with the stores.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.