Laura Hill, vice president of the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, speaks to reporters about the SNAP Stretch program funding extension at ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's Capitol Market on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Lucas Hill holds onto his mom, Laura, at a news conference about the SNAP Stretch program funding extension Thursday, July 10, 2025, at ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's Capitol Market.
Sarah Gray (right) helps customers at the checkout counter of The Purple Onion in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's Capitol Market on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
SNAP Stretch — a program aimed at helping individuals and families make the most of their EBT/SNAP benefits for the purchase of fresh produce — has received $360,000 in funding from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
It's part of the fiscal year 2026 state budget that Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed in April. The program was paused last August over a lack of funds, causing some instability.
On Thursday, program representatives and leaders celebrated the funding infusion at Capitol Market, 800 Smith St., in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, and shared West Virginia SNAP Stretch success stories.
Laura Hill, vice president of the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, said the program has helped 79,000 families, with participants reporting increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Operated by the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, SNAP Stretch allows users to swipe their EBT card at participating markets, and the amount they receive will be doubled if it's used to purchase fruits and vegetables.
Laura Hill, vice president of the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, speaks to reporters about the SNAP Stretch program funding extension at ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's Capitol Market on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
"Depending on the age, size of family, you could double or triple the amount of fruit and vegetables you can purchase at these stores," Hill said.
Participating locations include Capitol Market, The Wild Ramp in Huntington, the Putnam Farmers Market in Hurricane and the Fayette County Farmers Market in Oak Hill.
Bethany Lewis, SNAP Stretch program director, said funding for the program is now a Department of Agriculture budget line item and will have to be voted on annually.
"That is the important part of why we're here today," Lewis said. "To get the awareness out and to show the need and the impact in the next several months, before the next legislative session, so that the Legislature will support us again."
Lucas Hill holds onto his mom, Laura, at a news conference about the SNAP Stretch program funding extension Thursday, July 10, 2025, at ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's Capitol Market.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Program leaders are already thinking bigger, hoping to use the state investment as leverage for federal matching funds.
"We can see, [in] the next four years, a million-dollar investment from the state of West Virginia, and then we can request another million dollars federally," Lewis said.Â
SNAP Stretch benefits may be used at 40 participating markets in 35 of West Virginia's 55 counties. Continued funding would help the program reach every county and involve more farmers markets and independent grocers.
For now, West Virginia families may continue to make their SNAP dollars stretch and support local agriculture and markets at the same time.
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