Keeping Track

Updated Balance Inquiry Assistance

To assist Boro Park SCN Program participants better, BPJCC has rolled out new software to show remaining food voucher balances on receipts. The balance will be divided by category for a more user-friendly experience.

This update is already active in some stores, but it might take another short while for all stores to update their software.

Clients can also call the BPJCC's automated line at 718-701-7076, press 3, then 1 to hear their balances by category.

Food Voucher Program Update

Check Approved Food Items by Barcode

The most efficient way to find approved food items by barcode is to visit HERE or scan the QR code above.

Additionally, BPJCC's automated phone assistant can now help you determine whether a food item is approved for the BPJCC SCN Food Card Program. Simply call our automated hotline at 718-701-7076 extension 0 or 3, then 2, and read the entire barcode or item ID number to the automated assistant. The system will search the approved food list, identify the item, and tell you which nutritional category it is approved for.

Store-specific or repackaged items with local barcodes may not appear on this list. To check these items, go HERE and select the store where you are shopping.

Tip For Food Voucher Participants

Ask participating stores for the QR code for the approved list of food items listed in the BPJCC SCN Food Voucher Catalog.

As store-specific or repackaged items with local barcodes may not appear on that list check these items by clicking HERE, then select the store where you are shopping.

Stores Accepting Food Vouchers

BPJCC has partnered with numerous establishments for our Food Voucher program. See the updated list of stores on the BPJCC website HERE.

To hear the current list of participating vendors, call 718-701-7076, ext. 0, where our automated system will share the most up-to-date information.

Are you a grocery store interested in joining our network? Click HERE to complete our vendor interest form and begin the enrollment process.



Summer Food Benefits Available for Eligible Children

New York families may be missing out on valuable summer food benefits. Through the Summer EBT program, eligible families can receive $120 per child to help purchase groceries while school is out. Last year, New York issued $237 million in benefits, but more than $62 million went unspent, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without assistance they were eligible to receive.

Most families who receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance (TANF), or Medicaid are automatically enrolled. Other eligible families based on household income must apply. The deadline to apply is September 8. Benefits can be used anywhere SNAP/EBT is accepted.

If you misplaced your Summer EBT card, request a replacement online or call 1-888-328-6399. New cards were mailed to families who did not use last year's benefits.

My kids are so excited to open the box each week to see what’s inside. Thank you so much for bringing happiness to so many homes.

- Anonymous

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Tip From Our Dietitian

Sodium: Essential, but Easy to Overdo

Salt often gets a bad reputation, but sodium actually plays an important role in the body. We need it for fluid balance, normal nerve function, and muscle function. The problem is that most Americans consume more sodium than they need, and over time, too much can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

What may be surprising is that most of the sodium we eat does not come from the salt shaker. According to the FDA, more than 70% of dietary sodium comes from packaged and prepared foods. Bread, sauces, soups, deli foods, frozen meals, snacks, and other everyday foods can all contribute, even when they do not taste particularly salty.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. That is about the amount of sodium in one teaspoon of table salt, but remember that this includes sodium already found in the foods you eat, not just the salt you add yourself.

The good news is that cutting back on sodium does not have to mean eating bland food. Garlic, onion, lemon or lime juice, vinegar, herbs, and spices can add plenty of flavor. Your taste buds can also adjust over time, so gradually using less salt may make lower-sodium foods taste more flavorful than you expect.

Instead of trying to eliminate salt completely, pay attention to where your sodium is coming from and look for simple opportunities to reduce it.

Budget-Friendly Ideas

Build Flavor for Less

You don't need expensive specialty products to make lower-sodium food taste good. Keep a few inexpensive flavor boosters on hand, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, vinegar, and lemon or lime juice. Mixing your own seasonings can also be less expensive than buying prepared spice blends, which may contain a significant amount of added salt.



A well-stocked spice cabinet can turn the same basic ingredients into completely different meals without relying on extra salt or expensive sauces.

Simple Healthy Tip

Compare Before You Choose

Sodium can vary significantly between different brands of the same food. When you're choosing items like bread, soup, tomato sauce, canned foods, or crackers, take a few seconds to compare the sodium on the Nutrition Facts labels.

You don't always have to give up a food you enjoy. Sometimes, simply switching brands can significantly reduce the amount of sodium you're getting. Just make sure you're comparing the same serving size.