ORANGE PARK, Fla. – A Walmart in Orange Park has begun accepting EBT cards for online grocery orders.
Crystal Wilson said she is a busy working mom who is always on-the-go either shopping for clients or shopping for her family. Wilson said a day at the store can get a little stressful.
The Orange Park Walmart she shops at a few times a week will help the single mom a lot. The store, located on Blanding Boulevard, is now accepting EBT cards when customers place an online grocery pick up order.
"That makes it a lot easier, that way I don’t have to tote everybody inside," Wilson said. "It’s amazing."
The Walmart website lists more than two dozen stores across the country that are already participating. At least four Walmarts across the state of Florida are accepting the online orders, including the Orange Park location.
Walmart said soon all Jacksonville locations will offer this:
"As part of Walmart’s commitment to offer a convenient shopping experience for all customers no matter how they shop or pay, the retailer is rolling out a pay at pickup option in that allows families using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to pay when they pick up groceries at any of the Walmart stores with pickup in Jacksonville. With this rollout, Walmart becomes the first retailer to offer this method for online grocery pickup customers at scale.
Walmart began piloting the program in 2018. With Walmart’s goal of having more than 3,100 pickup locations open by the end of the year, the SNAP payment option will make it even easier for more customers to pick up their groceries without even leaving their cars."
Patty Boyle, a shopper, said she believes it's a good idea that benefits both the elderly and disabled, but she believes there should be some requirements.
"Maybe they should come up with a system for the EBT, a special code for that customer ... to make sure it is that person," Boyle said.
News4Jax asked the Department of Children and Families about how the agency will monitor the system to make sure the right person is picking up the groceries and also checked with Walmart to see what other stores are on the list to offer this service.
As of Thursday evening, News4Jax had not yet received a response.