To keep up with the growing demand for help, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Human Services (DHS) upgraded its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment system last summer, and 90 percent of all new applications are now processed online. The other 10 percent come from people who don’t have access to the Internet, so in-person or phone assistance is needed.

DHS also added online grocery purchases for SNAP members who can now use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards like debit cards to make purchases for pick-up at select Walmart locations.

Daniela Spoto, Director of Anti-Hunger Initiatives at the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, praised DHS for making adjustments to meet the growing demand during the pandemic.

“When people need to do grocery shopping and are scared to leave their homes, especially seniors and people with mobility issues, having that ability to use their EBT online is extremely important.”