Costco to Accept Food Stamps Nationwide

Costco Wholesale plans to accept food stamps at its warehouse stores nationwide, a major shift for a company that earlier this year said it doubted there would be enough demand among customers to warrant accepting food stamps in even one market, New York City.

"The rules are different today," CEO Jim Sinegal said. "People who were in good shape financially all of the sudden are needing some assistance."

He expects Costco to accept food stamps in at least half its roughly 410 U.S. stores by Thanksgiving, including its 28 locations in Washington state.

The decision comes several months after the country's third-largest retailer began a food-stamp test at stores in Queens and Brooklyn, in response to pressure from politicians who asked the company to accept food stamps at an East Harlem store scheduled to open next month.

At first, the Issaquah company balked at the idea, saying it doubted its customers, who pay an annual fee of at least $50 would use food stamps.
LINK HERE

Americans are Preparing for the Great Depression are YOU?
Survival Seeds