The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA, FNS) has approved DHS’s waiver request for an extension of the Virgin Islands Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
“We continue to press forward with our efforts to serve the needs of the public as it pertains to the D-SNAP. Our waiver request for an extension of D-SNAP is rooted in our ability to adequately meet the nutrition needs of eligible households while confronting ongoing challenges of stability within the local infrastructure,” said Commissioner of the V.I. Department of Human Services (DHS) Felecia L. Blyden.
In approving the D-SNAP request, FNS highlighted the Virgin Islands supporting information to justify the extension as “the application site volume was significantly larger than anticipated of the first four days; and connectivity issues stemming from limited telephone and Internet access on U.S.V.I. have presented application processing challenges.”
The FNS has granted a three-day extension to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services which begins on Thursday, Nov. 16, through Saturday, Nov. 18. D-SNAP site locations are on St. Thomas at the University of the Virgin Islands, Tutu Park Mall and the French Town Evangelical Church; on St. Croix, sites are at the DHS offices in Mars Hill, Frederiksted, the Cardiac Center at the Juan Luis Hospital, and the Richmond Senior Center; and on St. John at the DHS Multipurpose Center. The hours of operation are from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
In transmitting its letter of approval, the FNS expressed appreciation to the DHS partnership and dedication to ensuring V.I. residents affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria can meet their nutrition needs. FNS concluded by offering continued technical and other support for the department.