Rhode Island's Eat Well, Be Well pilot rewards program encourages healthy eating for SNAP recipients

“For a modest investment of just $10 million in a budget that is billions we can feed 12 to 13% of our state's population," said State Senator Jonathan Acosta.

“Thug life,” said State Senator Jonathon Acosta (Democrat, District 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) quoting Tupac at the Stop & Shop store located on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. “The hate you give little infants, f's, everyone.”

“I have vivid memories of being just eight years old in the third grade and walking around grocery stores, sharpening my rounding and percentage skills based on the ceiling budget that we had,” continued Senator Acosta. “Our survival on a week-to-week basis was based on a patchwork of the poverty wages my mom was being paid as she went to school full time, the child support checks that my father sent, and the SNAP benefits that the senior family member who lived with us was eligible for.

“As an 8-year-old, it was my job to calculate what we could and could not afford to eat on a week-to-week basis. Now, the Disney or Hallmark version of that story is an American success story. It would highlight the grit and the bootstraps that I pulled myself out with.

“But in the true TV version of that story, we'd talk about the anxiety, the desperation, and the frustration that haunts children all over this state and all over this country who have to live with the reality that they know that they have less.

“We can make a difference in that.

“How pronounced are those feelings today in the aftermath of Covid? How pronounced are those feelings today in the face of inflation, which is cool, but has not returned to pre-covid levels?

“For a modest investment of just $10 million in a budget that is billions we can feed 12 to 13% of our state's population. We can provide more, not just food, but specifically healthy food for 12 to 13% of our state's population. It is not a lot to ask.”

Senator Acosta was speaking at the launch of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services’ (DHS) statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Eat Well, Be Well Pilot Rewards Program. So far, the participating grocers are Stop & Shop and Walmart, but more grocers are being recruited, with an emphasis on smaller bodegas that primarily serve Spanish-speaking households. This is the first statewide program of its kind in the country, providing SNAP recipients with up to $25 a month in additional benefits for purchasing eligible fruits and vegetables.

You can watch the press conference here:

SNAP recipients will receive this incentive automatically at the cash register after purchasing eligible fruits and vegetables. There are approximately 140,000 SNAP recipients currently in the state.

SNAP customers will receive an additional 50 cents in benefits to their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card for every SNAP dollar spent on eligible fresh fruit and vegetable purchases, with up to $25 in extra benefits awarded per month. Reward incentives will be applied to the customers’ EBT cards immediately after the purchase is complete and can subsequently be used to purchase any SNAP-eligible item.

“DHS is incredibly excited to be able to offer this innovative new program here in Rhode Island,” said DHS Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito. “The effort to stand up and operationalize this pilot has taken the hard work and collaboration of many including staff, elected officials, and our retail partners. I believe the Eat Well, Be Well Program will provide an additional and important opportunity to help support increased access to healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables to many.”

“The launch of the Eat Well, Be Well pilot program is an incredibly encouraging day for Rhode Island,” said United States Representative Gabe Amo (Democrat, Rhode Island). “I hope this pilot will be as innovative as it is impactful. Not only are we providing additional SNAP funds for families who purchase fresh, healthy foods, but Rhode Island is demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships and collaboration as we work on tackling some of our most complex challenges.”

“Food insecurity is a very serious crisis that affects far too many Rhode Islanders. According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, one in four Rhode Island families with children are going hungry,” said State Senator Valarie Lawson (Democrat, District 14, East Providence). “I was proud to champion legislation that led to the creation of the SNAP Eat Well, Be Well pilot program, which will increase the number of nutritious foods on the tables of thousands of our most vulnerable, food-insecure neighbors — many of whom are children, seniors, and working families. I am grateful to all of the partners who helped make this initiative possible, and I look forward to working to ensure the program’s long-term success.”

Other speakers included Gordon Reid, President of Stop & Shop, and Chris Buchanan, Director of Public and Government Affairs for Walmart.

"We're proud to team up with the Department of Human Services to initiate a pilot program to shape a healthier future for Rhode Islanders," said Dr. Amy Nunn, Executive Director of Rhode Island Public Health Institute. "This life-changing initiative signifies a positive shift, ensuring easier access to healthier food options, especially for those who need it most. Our research underscores the pivotal role of SNAP incentives in making healthy choices more affordable. With enthusiastic anticipation, we set our sights on scaling the program, creating greater access and impact for hundreds of thousands."

Items eligible under the new program include, but are not limited to:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables that are cut or whole;

• Edible seeds (e.g., sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds);

• Fresh herbs;

• Salad kits – inclusive of products that have cheese, croutons, dressing, etc. included;

• Pomegranate cup;

• Potted fruit, vegetable, and herb plants; and,

• Fresh garlic.

The monthly cap for the financial incentive is $25 per SNAP household. For example, a SNAP household can spend $50 per month on eligible fresh fruits and vegetables and receive up to a $25 reward incentive directly onto their EBT card automatically. The SNAP recipient does not need to take any additional steps to receive the incentive. The reward will be applied immediately after the purchase of any eligible items and will be credited back onto their EBT card.

The Eat Well, Be Well rewards balance can be checked through three different ways:

• The reward balance is printed on the bottom of the receipt when customers check out at the grocery store;

• Online on the customer’s account here, here, or the HealthyRhode mobile app; and,

• Customers can call the EBT customer service number at 1-888-979-9939.  For customers with questions about their balance, please email DHS here.

This pilot program was funded through an $11.5 million budgetary appropriation in the FY23 budget to the Department of Human Services. Additional information on the program can be found here.