Assistance at Our Market
We’re pleased to offer a weekly matching benefit to EBT card holders. At our Info Tent you can purchase SNAP tokens, and use them throughout the market for any SNAP-eligible foods. Each Saturday, when you purchase tokens, we will match them, up to $10, free. You can certainly use your EBT card to get more from your EBT balance, but we will only match up to $10 once per card, per week.
Here’s how it works:
- if you buy $10 worth of tokens with the funds in your SNAP account, we give you $10 free, for a total of $20 worth of tokens
- if you buy $15 worth of tokens with the funds from your SNAP account, we give you $10 free, for a total of $25 worth of tokens
And here’s more good news! If you have SNAP benefits, you also have HIP benefits. HIP puts money back on your EBT card at the Waltham Farmers’ Market when you buy fruit and vegetables at Dick’s Market Garden or Sibling Organic Crops. Please read below to learn more about HIP:
What is HIP (Healthy Incentive Program)?
HIP is an incentive program sponsored by the State that helps you earn extra SNAP benefits. This monthly benefit automatically gets deposited to your account on the first of the month.
Do I have to do anything to sign up for HIP?
No, HIP is automatically included on your EBT card.
How does HIP work?
You earn HIP benefits when you use your EBT card at the Waltham Farmers’ Market (WFM) vendors: Dick's (weekly vendor) or Sibling (check website for schedule), and the amount you spend is immediately put back on your EBT card. Please note that you need to spend SNAP benefits on fruit and vegetables to earn HIP benefits.
What is the amount of my monthly benefit?
The amount of your monthly benefit is based on your SNAP benefits, households of 1-2 people earn $40/month; 3-5 people earn $60/month; and households with 6 or more people earn $80/month.
How do I earn HIP benefits?
You can only earn the amount equal to your monthly benefit ($40, $60 or $80 depending on the number of people in your household). The vendor receipt will show the money taken out of your account and then the same amount added back into the account.
Here’s how SNAP and HIP benefits work together:
What else do I need to know about HIP?
*You must have money in your SNAP account in order to earn HIP benefits.
*HIP purchases require the vendor to process using your EBT card.
*If you don’t use up your monthly HIP benefit, the extra money will not be added to the next monthly allotment.
*This is EXTRA money you can earn back onto your EBT card each month, in addition to your regular monthly SNAP benefits.
Where can I get more information about HIP?
- If you’re at the WFM, stop by the Info Tent and someone can help.
- Call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 800-645-8333 (Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 10am-2pm).
- Visit the website: www.mass.gov/HIP or call 800-997-2555.
FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (FMNP) COUPONS FOR SENIORS AND WIC PARTICIPANTS
Every summer, cities and towns hand out FMNP coupons to seniors and WIC families. These coupons are used to purchase eligible fruits and vegetables. All farm stands at the Waltham Farmers’ Market (Dick’s Market Garden, Heaven’s Harvest, Sibling Crops, and Spring Brook Farm) accept these coupons. To redeem, hand them directly to the vendor when making a purchase.
Additional Resources
WATCH
https://watchcdc.org/covid-19-resources-food/
The link above will take you to a comprehensive weekly list of to-go and dine-in meals available around town. There are also a lot of pantries available to the community.
Waltham Fields Community Farm
https://communityfarms.org/programs/food-access
This page has a variety of resources that are not listed elsewhere (subsidized CSA, mobile market and they accept EBT cards at their farmstand).
OTHER NEARBY FARMERS’ MARKETS
Lexington Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays, 2-6:30, now -10/26
https://lexingtonfarmersmarket.org/
Worthen Road Practice Field
SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons accepted. SNAP match up to $15 on weekly basis
Watertown Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays, 2:30-6:30pm, now – 10/20
https://livewellwatertown.org/farmersmarket
Saltonstall Park, corner of Main/White Streets
SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons accepted. SNAP match up to $15 on weekly basis.
Belmont Farmers’ Market
Thursdays, 2-6:30pm, now – 10/28
https://www.belmontfarmersmarket.org/
Town Center Lot, 10 Claflin St.
SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons accepted. SNAP match up to $25 on weekly basis.
ALL MASSACHUSETTS FARMERS’ MARKETS
Use this map to find farmers’ markets, including winter markets, farms, and many other agricultural resources across the state. Use the Nutrition Programs drop-down to see where you can use SNAP, HIP, and FMNP coupons