The MC Groceries Launch Event will be held on Thursday, August 29th from 11am-12pm at Sprouts Farmers Market (15793 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD) to celebrate the creation and successful implementation of this innovative initiatve. County Executive Marc Elrich, Instacart’s Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs Casey Aden-Wansbury and representatives from the Maryland Department of Human Services are expected to offer remarks.

Fresh Funds Program Journey

MC Groceries Program Overview

What is MC Groceries? The MC Groceries program was developed as a component of Special Appropriation #24-37 to implement the County’s Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger. This nutrition benefit program expands retail food access for households that are not eligible for SNAP due to income or citizenship restrictions. $1.82M was originally allocated through the Special Appropriation for this program, with the goal of supporting 2,000 total County households.

How does MC Groceries work?

Participants receive a monthly stipend for groceries called Instacart Health Fresh Funds to shop online from grocers available on Instacart, commensurate with the number of children (0-18) in the household. A household with one child will receive $100, two children $200, and so on with a cap of $400/month. Benefits are replenished each month to bring the account back to the allocated benefit amount. These stipends are restricted to nutritious food and beverage items, similar to restrictions associated with EBT SNAP benefits.

Where can participants redeem their Fresh Funds stipends?

Participants can choose to shop from over 20 grocers available in their area for delivery via Instacart. Participants can choose which retailer to shop from based on their family’s preferences. Many retailers offer both delivery and pick-up options.

How is MC Groceries eligibility determined?

OFSR collaborated with the  Department of Health and Human Services Planning, Accountability, and Customer Service (PACS) team to identify 2,000 households that met the eligibility criteria of:

• Household income is at or below 400% FPL,
• Household has a child under 18 years old, and
• Household does not have an active SNAP case.

Of 6,441 households that met these qualifications, a sample of 2,000 were selected to match the race and ethnicity profile of Montgomery County residents living under 400% FPL to the extent possible. The initial participant group also has direct contact with case workers through programs such as Linkages to Learning and Child and Adolescent School and Community Based Services (CASCBS).

The final sample of 2,000 households that received an invitation to participate is composed of 51% Hispanic, 15% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 11% non-Hispanic other, 8% non-Hispanic mixed race, 3% non-Hispanic White, 2% non-Hispanic Asian. (Around 8% Other/No Data Available). DHHS Staff, including the Navigation Unit and the CASCBS team, have supported the program roll-out by coordinating outreach and follow-up to participants, providing hands-on technical assistance and translation assistance to dozens of clients.

How many County residents are currently participating in MC Groceries?

538 households, representing 1,045 total children, are currently receiving Fresh Funds benefits through the MC Groceries program. According to data collected from this group, 9/10 participants are experiencing food insecurity, and at least 87% of participating households self-identify as Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Middle-Eastern, and/or American Indian.

Future Plans:

There is $1.8M allocated in OFSR’s FY25 budget for the continuation of retail food access strategies to support food insecure families. The OFSR team is working with DHHS to set up processes for communicating to residents around opportunities to join the program in the future.