Updates on EBT Skimming; WH Conf on Food Security Special Session Monday 8/29; Lt Gov Candidates on Food Security - Recording from 8/17 Forum

Happy Friday, indeed the last Friday in August. Make the most of it!

Update on skimming/PIN removal- Eastern MA DTA offices open Saturday AM

Thx to all who were able to join the SNAP Coalition call yesterday to get DTA updates on the ongoing crisis of “skimming” (thefting of SNAP and cash EBT user information and/or benefits at ATMs and POS devices). Here’s three things you need to know:

1. DTA has spread out the dates for the PIN removal: This week, only households in the Brockton area - who hadn't re-PINed or gotten a new card recently - had their EBT card PINs removed. They will need to re-PIN to access their benefits. Next week, other areas will have their PINs removed. .

2. The Brockton, Quincy and Nubian Square local DTA offices will be open tomorrow, Saturday, 8/27, from 9am to 1pm to help clients change their PIN. DTA is telling clients who live in these areas about this by text. These offices are NOT open for regular business such as interviews. 

3. DTA's grocer/retailer flyer is now available on their outreach materials page.

Please help get the word out to recipients and retailers to encourage households to re-PIN their EBT cards (with new PIN numbers) frequently, to protect their benefits and stay tuned for more updates. 

White House Conference on Food Security - Special Listening Session on Monday, August 29th for persons with lived expertise.  

See the FRAC alert below announcing this special listening session designed NOT for community orgs and policy wonks, but for individuals with “lived expertise” currently or in the past with poverty and food insecurity. Thanks to Diane Sullivan and Jimmeika Mills of Equitable Spaces for ensuring the voices of persons with lived expertise are lifted up.  Please note the definition of "lived expertise" included in the invitation below.

We realize this is very short notice, late in the day (for East Coasters) and is being offered during the last week of August as families are settling their kids back to school, not ideal. Nonetheless, we urge you to encourage persons with lived expertise to register and share their expertise.  See link BELOW to register.

Recording from August 17th MA Lieutenant Governor Candidate Food Security Forum.  

Hosted by Project Bread and the food banks of Greater Boston, Western MA, Worcester Co and Merrimack Valley for an excellent forum with the Lt Guv candidates who agreed to show up - Salem Mayor Driscoll, State Rep Gouveia and State Senator Lesser. Below are links to a recording from the August 17th zoom event. Hats off to Project Bread and the MA food banks for an excellent forum focusing on the crisis of food insecurity in Massachusetts

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• Recording in English  

• Recording with Spanish interpretation  

Make sure you, your family and friends, colleagues and consumers exercise your right to vote!   

If you have not already voted, please visit https://turbovote.org/ to check your registration, register if needed, and get election reminders.The Democratic and Republican Primaries in Massachusetts are on Tuesday, September 6th (deadline to register is tomorrow, August 27th). The statewide general election is on Tuesday, November 8th (deadline to register is October 29th)  

Note: If you are registered but “unenrolled” - you can still vote in either the Dem or Rep primary!  Simply let the city or town clerk know which Primary you wish to vote in and they will provide you with a ballot (you cannot vote in both). More info on voting in Primaries when unenrolled, go HERE.