Advocates Praise Costco Decision To Increase Food Stamps Acceptance
Responding to the announcement today by the Costco Wholesale Corporation that it will accept food stamp benefits (now officially called SNAP benefits) at its new 116th Street location currently under development in East Harlem in addition to the two previously announced test locations in Queens and Brooklyn, Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, said the following:
“This decision is a win-win for Costco and for struggling New York City families. Food stamp recipients will be able to benefit from lower prices, the company will earn more income – and hopefully be able to create more jobs. These days, low-income New Yorkers haven’t won many victories, so this is certainly a welcome one. We hope that this new policy works so well that Costco soon expands it to every store in the nation. We are especially grateful to New York City Council Member Eric Gioia for his early leadership on this issue, as well as to Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Comptroller William Thompson, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for speaking out forcefully on this topic.”
I think it’s great that Costco is finally starting to accept food stamps. Hopefully it’ll expand nationwide sooner rather than later. Also, from what I’ve read elsewhere, an impetus for Costco was BJ’s accepting food stamps at all their stores.
- Yuri Kim of United Way of King County
It really is a great idea for them to have all locations accept food stamps. Especially since Costco is known for having things in bulk for cheap prices, it is the best way for those who are in need to obtain foods. I really do hope to see all Costco’s and other wholesale food stores follow their lead and help out their own communities as well.