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Dear John,
Safeway is being slow to implement the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online purchasing pilot program designed to allow SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online. Black families--especially Black mothers and children who rely on WIC-eligible food--are faced with visiting multiple grocery locations only to find empty shelves or food with no nutritional substance.1 Not to mention, within our vulnerable community many SNAP benefit recipients are also elderly and disabled, making it even more important that Safeway develop safer shopping conditions.2
In the past three weeks, 17 million people have filed for unemployment.3 Food insecurity will only exponentially increase as businesses fold and layoffs continue. Food deserts are most often found in Black communities. Providing families the opportunity to remain safe within their homes by using their SNAP benefits online would aid in protecting one of the most vulnerable communities.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.
Black families are battling compounded inequalities in the face of this pandemic and Safeway can play a major role in combating food insecurity and the spread of coronavirus. By fully implementing the SNAP online program and waiving delivery fees that cannot be covered by SNAP benefits, Safeway will aid collective efforts to flatten the curve in U.S. coronavirus cases, as well as help guarantee a solid food supply in the homes of the families they serve.
Not only can Safeway play a critical role in combating food insecurity, this major retailer can further protect Black consumers by ensuring that the implementation of this program includes data protection which allows consumers to opt-in for sharing personally identifiable information with third parties for marketing purposes. The unintended consequences of Black SNAP recipient data collection can lead to harm in terms of health, privacy, and economic opportunity, given that Black children are disproportionately targeted with junk food ads.4
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.
Food access and data protection are two of the many barriers to a sound quality of living Black communities are facing. Black SNAP recipients should not be subjected to exclusion from online grocery purchasing or data collection in the process of making purchases. In cities such as Maryland and New York, food retailers are now demanding masks be worn upon entrance.5,6 With masks unavailable in stores or online, along with some families lacking access to means to purchase them, online grocery shopping with SNAP benefits is needed more than ever. Safeway can do more to protect its Black consumers like some of its competitors. In some states, Walmart is taking strides to implement the online pilot program, and smaller retailer FreshDirect allows SNAP benefit purchases and waives delivery fees to ensure there are no out-of-pocket costs for SNAP consumers. Corporations say ‘we are in this together,’ and it is time they show it.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
- “Viral Tweet Asks Shoppers To Be Mindful Of Not Buying WIC Items,” The Grio, March 17, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244623?t=7&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
- “Most Americans On Food Stamps Must Shop At Stores, Risking Coronavirus Exposure,” Politico, April 7, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244624?t=9&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
- “Jobs Carnage Mounts: 17 Million File For Unemployment In 3 Weeks,” NPR, April 9, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244625?t=11&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
- “Junk Food Ads Disproportionately Target Black And Hispanic Kids, Study Finds,” NBC News, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244626?t=13&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
- “Masks to Be Required in All Maryland Grocery Stores, on Public Transit,” News4 Washington, April 15, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244627?t=15&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
- “De Blasio Asks Customers To Wear Masks In NYC Grocery Stores,” The Hill, April 15, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244628?t=17&akid=42053%2E4731121%2EYtvUEG.
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