DoorDash Inc.
08/25/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/25/2021 17:00
Announcing an Open Call for School Delivery Grants in Partnership with No Kid Hungry
In partnership with No Kid Hungry, we're excited to launch an open call for schools, school nutrition services, and other school-adjacent organizations to leverage DoorDash last-mile logistics to help meet their students' needs during the 2021-22 school year. We invite qualifying organizations to apply by completing the No Kid Hungry x Project DASH application form by 9/30.
As part of this work, DoorDash will donate up to 100,000 deliveries via Project DASH to help schools provide food for students and bridge access to resources by delivering school supplies and other essential items.
'Schools have been working tirelessly to feed our children in these trying times; every day we hear stories of the logistical obstacles they've had to overcome,' said Tom Nelson, President and CEO of Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. 'With the support of a logistics expert like DoorDash, their burden will be eased and they will be able to focus on helping students learn and thrive.'
Addressing child hunger through last-mile delivery with Project DASH
Since 2018, Project DASH has provided last-mile delivery and online ordering solutions for government and nonprofit partners, helping hundreds of food banks and food pantries serve their clients. Through Project DASH, Dashers have delivered food bank and food pantry boxes, meals, school supplies, mental health kits, home essentials, holiday items, and more, totaling over 900,000 deliveries and more than an estimated 15 million meals connected to people in need.
By the latest estimates, as many as 13 million children in the United Stateslive in households experiencing food insecurity. The number of children living with hunger had fallen steadily over the past decade, but the pandemic dealt a blow to progress. Additionally, the pandemic presented new challenges and strain on teachers, administrators, and parents as they cared for students, who adapted to distance-learning and reduced access to school-provided meals and resources they once depended on.
From Portland, Oregon to New York City, we have been grateful to play a role in connecting school meals to immunocompromised students who depended on the reliable and safe delivery of this food throughout the pandemic via Project DASH. Moving forward, we are excited to expand these efforts in partnership with No Kid Hungry.
This special initiative is in addition to our work to support students through Backpack Giveaways and Community Credits awarded to school communities this year, providing students and parents with DoorDash gift cards to help them order food and essential items so that they have one less thing to worry about while navigating this busy and uncertain time.
In collaboration with No Kid Hungry, we're proud to help expand access for students across the country during this unpredictable school year.