Manchester Market can now accept EBT!
Manchester Market can now accept EBT SNAP benefits. Photo by Fritz Swanson.
by Sara Swanson
After two and a half years of work behind the scenes, Manchester Market can now accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)!
Melissa Craft announced last week on behalf of the Manchester Market, “Manchester Market has obtained our licensing to accept EBT SNAP to the community to provide access to quality food items for individuals and families who receive this benefit. We are committed to contributing to the overall well-being of the community by ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious and quality food options. We have been accepting EBT SNAP benefits since March 1.”
EBT is an electronic system that allows a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP-authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased.
We reported back in 2022 that although it may function as a standard grocery store to the shopper, Manchester Market is technically multiple businesses under one roof, including Grand River Bakery, Grand River Butchery, Manchester Meat Company, and Perky Pantry; and multiple businesses cannot sell under one EBT SNAP license. In the end, they resolved the issue by having Perky Pantry purchase all of the items from the other businesses so customers are purchasing from Perky Pantry and not directly from the other businesses. Now Perky Pantry is able to hold an EBT license.
Carol Wotring, executive director Community Resource Center, reacted to the news. “This is fabulous news for our community!” she stated. “Manchester-area residents with EBT cards will no longer have to travel to other communities to get access to the variety of healthy foods that are available locally. Thank you, Manchester Market, for bringing this to our community!”
Wotring added, “If you need help with applying for or renewing your food assistance benefits (EBT), the Community Resource Center is here to help. Trained MI Bridges navigators are available by appointment. Please call (734) 428-7722 for more information.”
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