The Southside Market on the Washington State University Pullman campus has become an authorized SNAP retailer. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them buy nutritious food.
The Southside Market, located in the Rotunda beneath Southside Café, joins The Market in Global Scholars Hall as the only two SNAP retailers on campus. Addressing food security is a priority for WSU Dining Services, which started the SNAP application process for Southside Market last year.
Guidelines established by the USDA permit SNAP beneficiaries to purchase any food at the market except hot food. SNAP benefits are loaded onto a card, much like a debit card, that students can present upon checkout.
So far, over 70 students have taken advantage of SNAP benefits at Southside Market and that number is expected to grow as more students become aware. The Market has seen over 370 SNAP transactions this academic year.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program.
