SNAP Toolkit for Long Island Schools & Community Partners

SNAP helps children and families.

Many families on Long Island struggle to afford enough food, and hunger is a persistent reality for kids. SNAP provides monthly benefits that eligible families can use to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and online at Amazon, Walmart, Shop Rite, and other locations.

As trusted members of the community, schools and community partners can inform families about assistance available to relieve food insecurity and increase their health and wellbeing.

Our SNAP toolkit and online eligibility prescreening tool

Our toolkit helps you connect eligible families to SNAP. The materials provide information about SNAP, and refer families to the online SNAP eligibility prescreening tool: families answer just 8 questions and are told if they are likely eligible for SNAP, likely ineligible, or if more information is needed. They are also told how to apply for SNAP on the NYS MyBenefits.NY.Gov website. We can help families complete and submit their applications.

Schools & SNAP

Increased SNAP participation among eligible students:

Reduces the need for school meal applications through direct certification.
Improves a school’s ability to adopt the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to provide free school meals to all students.
Increases a school’s percentage of students eligible for free meals, which increases federal reimbursement revenue and may enable schools to participate in other programs, like summer and afterschool meals.

Toolkit Materials

Blurb describing SNAP and the Eligibility Prescreening Tool
Use in newsletters, emails, website, or other communications. Copy and paste the language below, and find additional samples (including Spanish translations) here.

If your family is struggling to have enough to eat, SNAP may be able to help. SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores and farmers markets. SNAP can help kids get the nutrition they need. To see if your family may be eligible, visit SNAPHelpNY.org and answer just a few questions. In less than 5 minutes, you will learn if you may be eligible and how to apply for SNAP. Hunger Solutions New York can also help you complete and submit your application. It is free and confidential.

Flyer for Families: Half sheet or Full sheet
Spanish: Half sheet or Full sheet
Include this with meals sent home to families or use it in online communications with families.

Video
Add this video to websites and other communications youtube.com/watch?v=jDFBMtZp_SI

Sample social media messages —includes Spanish translations
Statements to use on your social media channels, robocalls, robotexts, emails, or other communications to families.

For libraries: sample outreach language —includes Spanish translations
Language for libraries to use in library newsletters, emails, websites, social media pages, or other communications with families.

Pair messages with any of the images below—click on any image to see it full-size, then right click to save. Link them to our SNAP eligibility prescreen tool: http://bit.ly/snaphelpli