Californians Can Use Food Stamps To Buy Groceries Online

CALIFORNIA — Californians who receive food benefits can now shop for groceries online through five major retailers.

CalFresh — the state's food benefits program — allows recipients to buy groceries online at Amazon, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons and Walmart. The state Department of Social Services, which runs the CalFresh program, said it hopes to add additional retailers in the future.

Albertsons, Vons and Safeway were added to the list of online retailers accepting CalFresh this month, according to the DSS website. See which locations are participating here.

Some retailers accepting CalFresh offer home delivery. Customers may buy groceries online and pick them up at stores, but CalFresh does not cover the cost of home delivery at this time, according to DSS.

Grocery delivery has become an increasingly popular service amid the coronavirus pandemic. Officials in California and beyond are encouraging people to stay home, particularly if they are elderly or considered high-risk to suffering serious complications of COVID-19.

CalFresh has seen an uptick in enrollment over the past year. More than 2.5 million households, or 4.7 million Californians, were receiving CalFresh as of September, the most recent month for which data is readily available. That's an increase of more than 380,000 households since September 2019.

More than $746 million in food benefits were distributed to Californians in September. Another 167,000 households applied to join the program that month.

Californians who wish to apply to receive CalFresh can do so at getcalfresh.org or by calling 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD).

See FAQs about retailers accepting CalFresh here.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.