Double SNAP Dollar Coupons

Published: 2022
By Chloe Lundquist

Throughout the 2022 Helena Farmer's Market season, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Instructor worked with the market to increase awareness and utilization of the Double SNAP Dollars (DSD) Program. The DSD Program, administered by the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition (CFAC), doubles the purchasing power of SNAP benefits at participating retailers. When SNAP recipients use benefits at participating retailers, they receive a dollar-for-dollar match that can be used to purchase fresh, local produce. Through a partnership with CFAC and MSU Extension’s Nutrition Education Program, Buy Eat Live Better, SNAP recipients attending Buy Eat Live Better nutrition education classes can now receive a $10 DSD coupon for each class they attend. SNAP recipients who attended 'Eating Smart Being Active' and 'Creates' lessons taught by Lewis & Clark County’s SNAP-Ed Instructor received a DSD coupon for each class attended during the 2022 Helena Farmer's Market season. In June 2022, after an online 'Eating Smart Being Active' series, the SNAP-Ed Instructor led a farmer's market tour for interested participants, and the first DSD coupon was used. Throughout the farmer's market season, 59 DSD coupons were distributed. The SNAP-Ed Instructor will continue to work with the Helena Farmer's Market and CFAC to increase awareness and utilization of the DSD Program during the 2023 market.