At the Belfast Community Co-op, we know that SNAP and other government assistance programs may be temporarily inaccessible or reduced on or after November 1st. For those who rely on these programs to access groceries, even a short disruption can mean difficult choices about food, bills, and other essentials.
This affects not only our shoppers but also our workers. Food insecurity is a shared reality across our communities—and some of the people who make the co-op run every day are also navigating the same challenges. We can show care through our actions toward each other by being understanding, patient, and connected.
We also ask everyone to be gentle with staff and volunteers at food pantries and community organizations distributing food for free or low cost. Many of these organizations are already working at capacity and will likely face even higher demand if benefits are delayed or reduced. A little patience and kindness can go a long way.
Together, we can uphold our cooperative values by centering compassion, equity, and community when and where it’s needed most.
What the Co-op is doing for our community and how you can help:
As a first line of support, we are voluntarily adding any BCC owner who has used EBT SNAP at the Belfast Community Co-op (in the last 3 months) to our CORE program for November and December 2025. Our CORE program gives participants 10% off their entire purchase, every time they shop (excluding beer/wine)
More about CORE: https://belfast.coop/food-access.
If you are not currently an Owner but use SNAP, please reach out to us if you would like to talk about support options for you. info@belfast.coop
The Farm Fresh Rewards program also loses funds due to the freeze. Our additional action is to offer all current EBT SNAP participants a once-a-week discount, similar to the current Farm Fresh Rewards program, which is 50% off local fruits and vegetables.
When SNAP funds are reinstated, this weekly 50% off coupon will expire, as Farm Fresh Rewards should be available again. Enrolled participants will remain in the CORE program through the end of December 2025 regardless of when SNAP is reinstated. We will continue to provide updates as the situation progresses.
If you would like to help:
Donations are always appreciated. 100% of donations through the Co-op go to our partners. Donations can be made to support the Belfast Soup Kitchen directly or to help support your neighbors in our Co-op CORE program. Options include both in-store and online. In-kind donations of non-expired food items are welcome at a bin in the front of the store, as well. We will share more opportunities to help in the time to come.
Thank you for your ongoing support of your Co-op and your community during this challenging time. We believe that eating well is just the beginning of what people achieve when we work together.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@belfast.coop
