Aldi Joins Program Allowing Curbside and Delivery for EBT Users
The Des Moines Register reports that Iowans on food stamps are set to begin receiving additional benefits in the new year. Aldi recently joined Hy-Vee, Amazon, Wal-Mart and others in allowing recipients of SNAP benefits to use their benefits for online ordering and curbside pickup and delivery. The service was allowed to expand under the recently-approved federal stimulus package.
Aldi is partnering with InstaCart for their service and one of the advantages, according to Food Bank of Iowa President and CEO Michelle Book, is to help people remain safely at home during the pandemic, as recommended as much as possible by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) but also help those with limited transportation to the grocery store in general, such as those who rely on public transportation.
The need for this service reportedly grew exponentially in the Spring, at the start of the pandemic. When unemployment claims rose, so did SNAP applications. Food pantries have also reported increased demand for their resources, so a service like a program being joined by Aldi. In the first 90 days it is onboard with Aldi, Instacart will waive delivery fees for the first three orders placed by users.