What is Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)?
EBT is an electronic system that allows a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits.
When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized EBT store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased.
EBT has been the sole method of SNAP issuance in all states since June of 2004.
What is Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)?
P-EBT is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was established by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
P-EBT provides benefits – very similar to SNAP benefits -- to children that would have received free or reduced price school meals.
EBT Store food categories:
- 1. Vegetables or fruits
- 2. Dairy products
- 3. Meat, poultry, or fish
- 4. Breads or cereals
EBT Store Eligibility Requirements
SNAP authorized stores must meet one of two staple food requirements:
Staple foods are the basic foods that make up a significant portion of a person’s diet. They are usually prepared at home and eaten as a meal. They do not include prepared foods, heated foods, or accessory foods.
Criterion A - Stocking Requirement
A store must have 3 stocking units of 3 different varieties for each staple food category on a continuous basis. For 2 staple food categories, there must be at least 1 perishable variety.
36 food stocking units are required to meet Criterian A. Most stores are authorized under Criterion A.
Criterion B - Sales
A store must have more than 50 percent of its total gross retail sales from the sale of staple foods. Specialty stores, like butcher shops, are often authorized under Criterion B.
Food You Can Buy With EBT Card
If you have the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, you can buy the food you need at any of the listed retailers in Ephrata, Pennsylvania Food Stamps Stores table
Each US state offers EBT benefits cards, including the . The State EBT card can be used in the local food stamps authorized retailers.
Here is a list of the food you can buy for at the Food Stamps retail stores that accept the EBT card:
- Breakfast cereal
- Meats and poultry
- Milk
- Fruit and vegetables
- Pasta, rice, and tortillas
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Canned legumes and fish
- Whole wheat bread and other whole grains
- Juice (shelf-stable, non-carbonated)
- Tofu and soy products
- Peanut butter
Stores that accept EBT Card(SNAP)
There 248,000 stores that accept EBT Cards across the U.S. They range from small convenience stores to major grocery chains and superstores like Walmart.
SNAP has even expanded its benefits to farmers markets, where you can buy fresh, healthy produce that’s locally grown.
Nationwide, more than 80% of SNAP benefits are used at larger retailers.
SNAP benefits are widely accepted for eligible food items at various EBT stores:
Bakery that Accept EBT
Are you looking for bakeries that accept EBT food stamps? Can you even redeem your SNAP food stamp benefits at bakeries and bakery outlets in the first place?
Finding a bakery nearby that accepts an EBT card is handy when you want to use your SNAP benefits to grab a birthday cake or some cookies.
It’s much easier to find a bakery than to find fast food restaurants that accept EBT nearby.
What if you want to redeem your SNAP benefits for baked products?
There are bakeries and stores with bakery outlets and donut shops that accept EBT food stamps.
Bimbo Bakeries USA Outlet Store, Great Harvest Bread Company, Aunt Millie's Bakery Outlet, Franz Bakery Outlet Store, and Pepperidge Farm Outlet are the top bakeries that accept EBT food stamps in the country.
Albertsons, Aldi, Winn-Dixie, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Walmart, Safeway, Publix, and Meijer, among others, are the top grocery stores with bakery outlets that take EBT Card.
Giant Food and Shaw's, other grocery stores have donut shops that accept EBT food stamps.
Bakery goods such as birthday cakes, wedding cakes, and other special occasion cakes are also EBT-eligible.
Seafood Markets that Accept EBT
There many seafood place that take EBT in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. You can buy freshly-caught seafood and enjoy such a nutritional meal with your family.
The benefits of eating fish include it’s filled with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins such as calcium, D, and B2, and minerals such as iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
Here’s a list of the top 4 seafood that take EBT.
Boston Public Market
The Boston Public Market is a year-round indoor marketplace. Everything sold inside originates or is produced in New England, such as the seafood.
The market features over 25 restaurants ranging from baked goods to fresh produce to specialty items.
John Yi Fish Market
For over 38 years, John Yi Fish Market is known for delivering some of the best seafood. It’s one of the few seafood stores that accept EBT for delivery.
Portland Fish Market
Portland Fish Market sources local fresh off the boat quality fish after countless hours of boating. They are one of the store that accept ebt online seafood restaurants that accept EBT.
Saltwater Seafood Market and Fry Shack
Saltwater is a family-owned seafood market for over a decade with a combined fifty-year and three generations of experience in the industry.
They serve premium seafood such as bass, crab, catfish, clams, cod, crabmeat, flounder, grouper, lobster, mahi-mahi, salmon, scallops, shrimp, snapper, tuna, perch, and more
Meat Market that Accept EBT
We’ve spent some time figuring out about 10% of the meat markets take EBT card to pay for food.
We’ve marked those who are accepting SNAP on our list. For your convenience, we are providing the list of all specialty meat and poultry stores – including butcher shops and meat markets that accept EBT in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
You can use your SNAP benefits to purchase meats that provide essential protein to your diet.
Options include chicken, turkey, beef, pork, shellfish and fish. The card will also pay for fresh, canned and frozen vegetables that are full of vitamins and minerals and work well alongside any meat dish.
EBT cardholders can pick up fresh, canned and frozen fruits to use as a healthy dessert, or yogurt and granola, which can be paired with the fruit for additional health benefits. Bread and other bakery products are also SNAP eligible.
Farmer's Market that Accept EBT
Did you know you can use your SNAP benefits(EBT Card) at local farmers markets?
Farmers markets are great places to buy fresh, healthy foods—with the added bonus of supporting community-based farmers and the local economy.
Some states even offer healthy-food incentive programs at farmers markets to help people with low income eat better while supporting the local economy.
Check with your local SNAP office to see if a healthy-food incentive program is available in your area.
Convenience Stores Accept EBT for Delivery
Gas Stations like Chevron, CITGO, Conoco, Exxon, Murphy USA BP BP America 7-Eleven QuikTrip Pilot and many others top gas stations accept EBT near you.
You can only use your EBT funds to pay for eligible products.
Most gas stations that accept EBT have convenience stores where you can buy approved items like cereal, bread, dairy products, snacks, energy drinks, and any other household food or item on the go while traveling.
However, you can’t use your SNAP benefits to pay for the fuel at gas stations or buy other unapproved items like prepared food, hot food, toiletries, alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, or over-the-counter medicine.
Eby's Store Inc
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/8/2008
Address :
1009 Martindale Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Ephrata Sunoco
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 6/19/2013
Address :
529 W Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Friendly Perfume & Novelties
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 2/10/2009
Address :
25 East Main Street,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Next Door Food Store
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 8/13/2018
Address :
644 E Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Sheetz 269
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/27/2009
Address :
4179 Oregon Pike,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Sheetz 478
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 11/7/2011
Address :
891 E Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Turkey Hill Minit Markets 212
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/22/2009
Address :
3585 Rothsville Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Turkey Hill Minit Markets 264
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/22/2009
Address :
4 Hahnstown Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Turkey Hill Minit Markets 281
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 10/2/2008
Address :
1010 Sharp Ave,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Turkey Hill Minit Markets 63
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/22/2009
Address :
903 S State St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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WAWA 260
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/29/2010
Address :
602 S Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Fruits & Veg Specialty Stores that Accept EBT
Grocery Stores Accept EBT for Delivery
Online Stores that take EBT
Amazon, Walmart, and Target are three major digital stores that accept EBT online for SNAP-eligible food items.
Here are few other stores that take ebt for online purchases.
Grocery Stores that Accept EBT
Most supermarkets, pharmacies and corner stores in the United States accept EBT Cards. Grocery stores like Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, Publix, Kroger, Albertsons, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Ahold Delhaize, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly, Sprouts, Lidl, Giant Eagle, Wegmans, Bi lo and many others top grocery stores accept EBT near you.
You can only use your EBT funds to pay for eligible products. Some grocery stores now allow you to order and pay for groceries on their website using your EBT card.
Many grocery stores take ebt online with Instacart, an online grocery delivery service, to buy groceries at SNAP-participating stores for delivery or pickup. Call or check website to confirm if grocery stores accept ebt online or not.
The newest online stores that take ebt as of April 2021 is Publix. Additional ebt accepted stores include Aldi, Amazon, BJ's, Carlie C's, Food Lion, and Walmart
Walmart has taken its SNAP participation one step further by accepting EBT payments online for grocery pickup and delivery orders in most states. All you have to do is visit Walmart.com, create an account, and download the Walmart app to shop and place your grocery order online.
Here is a list of some of the major grocery stores that accept EBT
Aldi 20
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 9/21/2017
Address :
830 E Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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CVS PHARMACY 5721
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/11/2003
Address :
440 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Dollar Tree 2388
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 9/10/2008
Address :
369 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Ebenezer Groceries, Llc
Store Details :
- Type: Large Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 8/15/2019
Address :
465 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Family Dollar Store 989
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/3/2009
Address :
130 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Giant Food Store 6501
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 9/5/2013
Address :
850 E Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Glenwood Foods LLC
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 9/11/2013
Address :
1614 Division Hwy,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Martin's Country Market
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 6/7/2019
Address :
1717 W Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Redners Warehouse Market 88
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 2/10/1988
Address :
423 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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THE SHARP SHOPPER
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 1/13/1989
Address :
1041 Sharp Ave,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Walmart Supercenter 2340
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 7/7/1999
Address :
890 E Main St,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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Weis Markets 79
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 4/11/1979
Address :
331 N Reading Rd,
Ephrata, PA 17522.
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FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food Bank?
Specifically, Ephrata County food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for Ephrata County food bank assistance?
To qualify for food bank assistance you must provide:
- Current state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of all household members
- Current electric bill to prove residence
- Bank Statement for income verification