MC Groceries Program Frequently Asked Questions

Current Participants: Click here for Benefits Use Instructions! Participantes Actuales: Haz clic aqui para ver instrucciones para usar su beneficio

 

Program Basics

What is the MC Groceries Program?

The MC Groceries Program will provide benefits for online grocery purchases of fresh and shelf-stable food items that are home delivered or picked up at a local retailer through a partnership with Instacart, using the company's Instacart Health Fresh Funds, which are category-specific online grocery stipends1. Eligible households may receive $100 in benefits each month for each child aged 0-18, up to $400.

This is a new program developed in partnership between the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to support food security and access for children who live in Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Council approved $1.8 million in funding for this program in December 2023 through Special Appropriation #24-37, to fund the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.

Who can participate in this program?

To be predetermined as eligible for this program, households must:
  • Reside in Montgomery County
  • Have at least one child under the age of 18 enrolled in another DHHS program
  • Not receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Have incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty Line (e.g., $124,000/year for a household of 4)
Participants must:
  • Have access to a form of backup electronic payment (such as a debit card, credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, or Klarna)
  • Be able to navigate an English-only platform to use benefits
  • Agree to live in Montgomery County for the duration of their participation in the program
  • Consent to participate in pre- and post- program surveys

For this new program, the application will be accessible by invitation only to households with children currently enrolled in a DHHS program that meet or are likely to meet the eligibility criteria. DHHS will contact these households to invite them to apply for the program. Identified households will receive a link to apply for the program from a DHHS staff member.

How long will this program last?

This program is funded to support benefits usage for approximately 6 months, with the possibility of extension. Program benefits are expected to be available beginning in Summer 2024. 

How much money will a participating household receive?

Participating households will receive $100 per month for each eligible child below the age of 18, up to $400.

About Instacart Fresh Funds:

How are benefits redeemed through this program?

Once enrolled in the program, households will receive instructions on how to create an Instacart account. Participating households will receive dollar-value credits, called Fresh Funds, that are redeemable through their Instacart account and can be used to shop for groceries using the Instacart website or mobile app. The head of household will receive a unique code, which they will redeem to their Instacart account as payment, giving their family access to the total amount of monthly benefits available to their household through the program. Funds will be automatically loaded on the account (for a total of $100 per eligible child per month, up to $400) on the 15th of each month or the following business day.

Participants must provide an alternate form of payment as a backup payment option for their Instacart account to be activated. For backup payment, participants can use a debit card or credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, or Klarna.

What items can be purchased through this program?

Households will be able to purchase select food and beverage items available from participating Instacart retailers. Fresh Funds eligible items are tagged with a "Fresh Funds" icon. The user's back-up payment method will be charged for any non-eligible items.

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How will households receive the food they order on Instacart using their Fresh Funds?

Households will be able to select either delivery or pick-up options depending on the selected retailer.

  • If the participant chooses the delivery option, Instacart will assign the order to a shopper. That shopper will go to the grocer, shop for the participant's order, and then deliver it to the address listed on the account within the selected delivery timeframe.
  • If the participant selects the pick-up option, the retailer will prepare the order for pick-up, and the participant must pick-up the order from the retailer within the selected timeframe.

Depending on the retailer and availability, orders can be placed and received same-day, or can be scheduled multiple days in advance.

Please note that the Fresh Funds credits are only intended to be used by the household that is participating in the program. Deliveries should only be placed to the address that has been provided to Montgomery County DHHS during the enrollment process.

What retailers are participating in this program?

Participants can use this program to purchase Fresh Funds-eligible items from any local retailer listed on the Instacart platform. The participant will input their preferred delivery address when creating an account, and the list of accessible retailers will adjust accordingly.

Media Coverage:

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1 Fresh Funds is an Instacart Health program that allows recipients to use a stipend to purchase specific grocery items, like fresh and frozen produce.