The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical federal program designed to provide funds that supplement the food budgets of low-income individuals and families, thereby increasing access to nutritious food. In North Carolina, the program serves about 1.4 million people. As of April 2025, the NC Department of Health & Human Services reported that 9,163 Orange County residents were actively enrolled and receiving SNAP benefits. However, based on county food insecurity numbers, it is estimated that an additional 4,000 residents may be eligible for SNAP benefits. This gap suggests that many residents are unaware of the program or mistakenly believe they are ineligible to apply for it. Because income eligibility requirements are subject to change each federal fiscal year, continuous community education is essential. According to USDA SNAP State Outreach Plan Guidance, state agencies administering SNAP have the authority to conduct program outreach to inform low-income households about the availability, current eligibility requirements, application procedures, and the comprehensive benefits of the program. NCDHHS partners with NC State Extension to offer the outreach program called More In My Basket Program. SNAP outreach is vital for correcting common myths and misperceptions, thereby enabling potentially eligible residents to make an informed decision about whether to apply. These proactive measures directly eliminate application barriers and are essential for maximizing access to SNAP benefits among low-income individuals.

The Orange County Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent and the Food Security Agent executed a multi-channel engagement strategy to disseminate More in My Basket resources throughout the FY25 Federal Fiscal Year. This effort combined direct outreach with a robust digital campaign and strategic material distribution. Direct engagement at outreach events, specifically held at the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department on Aging in the Spring of 2025, reached 100 individuals who visited the booth to learn about SNAP and related community resources. Concurrently, a weekly social media campaign on Facebook achieved a significant total reach of 45,241 people, providing consistent information on topics including SNAP eligibility, nutrition, emergency preparedness, and farmers’ market utilization. To support physical access to information, 321 recipe cards and other More In My Basket materials were successfully disseminated, with many being distributed through strategic community food security partner organizations. Finally, the agents provided targeted financial preparedness education by publishing an article entitled “Prepare Your Budget for Hurricane Season” in The News of Orange County, further underscoring the importance of financial security for the newspaper’s 3500+ subscribers.

As a direct result of the SNAP Outreach efforts utilizing More In My Basket resources during FY25, a key outcome was the increase in direct resident engagement. Specifically, 18 individuals from Orange County contacted the More In My Basket team seeking detailed information about SNAP eligibility and requesting assistance with the application process. Furthermore, the multi-channel campaign (including the targeted print media and social media content) successfully increased community-wide awareness regarding current SNAP eligibility requirements and provided practical knowledge on financially preparing for budget shortfalls and emergencies.

For more information about More In My Basket in Orange County including tabling requests for your community event, contact Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Ivelisse Colón at 919-245-2055 or Food Security Extension Agent Jonathon Smith at 919-245-2057.