Connecting people to what they need, when they need it, is DoorDash’s specialty. Since 2018, food banks, food pantries, and community organizations have partnered with Project DASH to deliver food and essential items to those experiencing food insecurity. Today, thanks to our partners, we proudly celebrate over 6 million deliveries via Project DASH, totaling more than 100 million meals delivered to households in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. As we commemorate this milestone, we recognize that local delivery will continue to play a crucial role in breaking down barriers to food access.
Access to affordable, nutritious food is a significant and growing challenge. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Household Food Security report, more than 44 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2022. Often, the problem is not the availability of food, but people’s ability to access it due to transportation challenges, disabilities, stigma, and the demands of everyday life.
Project DASH addresses these barriers by leveraging local delivery to ensure that time and transportation are no longer obstacles. Through partnerships with hundreds of nonprofit organizations—including United Way Worldwide, the Feeding America® network, and Meals on Wheels America—Project DASH delivers food directly to those in need. Dashers bring these essential items to recipients, allowing people to receive charitable food conveniently and with dignity.
“Tackling food insecurity is a team effort, and our partnership with Project DASH is making a difference in the greater Akron area. Home delivery enables us to increase equity and serve previously unreachable members of our community. It’s a perfect example of how working together can improve the quality of life for so many of our neighbors.” – Dan Flowers, President & CEO, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Project DASH has delivered over 100 million meals, including:
- More than 63 million meals to areas with a higher rate of SNAP-receiving households than the national average.
- Over 12 million meals to food deserts and approximately 15 million meals to rural communities.
- More than 34 million meals to areas with a higher rate of seniors than the national average.
- Over 49 million meals to areas with a higher rate of people with disabilities than the national average.
Local delivery helps Project DASH partners broaden access and fulfill their missions, such as:
- Providing culturally appropriate meals: Masbia Soup Kitchen and Project DASH have provided an estimated 1.5 million kosher meals via 150,000 deliveries in Borough Park.
- Combating childhood hunger: Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) and Project DASH deliver thousands of meals to local school children without the stigma of backpack programs.
- Serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence: SafeNest and Project DASH have provided over 800 deliveries of more than 9,000 meals to survivors in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Alleviating stress for new moms: The Texas Diaper Bank delivers baby diapers, adult diapers, and period products to families in need.
- Improving senior health: St. Mary’s Food Bank delivers more than 800,000 meals, expanding its reach to new cities like Flagstaff and Camp Verde.
- Empowering college students: UCSD’s Triton Food Pantry partners with Project DASH to support working students, young parents, and students with disabilities.
- Supporting disaster relief: Project DASH and 211 Big Bend have delivered over 530 boxes of food and essential supplies to those impacted by tornadoes in Florida’s Leon County.
- Filling volunteer gaps: LaPorte County Meals on Wheels partners with Project DASH to ensure seniors receive meals without interruption.
“Deliveries are helpful to me at the present time. I have diabetes and nerve damage and cannot walk for long periods. I have also recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and undergo weekly chemo, which makes me too weak and sick to go out. Thank you for keeping me and my family with food.” – Sarah, Covington, WA
Project DASH deliveries connect nonprofits, local Dashers, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity, breaking down barriers and bringing communities closer together.
“I made a real connection on one of my Project DASH deliveries. The woman I was delivering to was getting a kidney transplant, and I’ve had a kidney transplant. We had a moment, and I’ve wanted to be part of Project DASH ever since.” – Thomas Beeker, Dasher
Supported by DoorDash, the Urban Institute studied the effectiveness of Project DASH and found:
- 80% of surveyed anti-hunger organizations sought a DoorDash partnership to reach new people in need.
- Over 90% of surveyed organizations reported that partnering with DoorDash allowed them to offer services they otherwise couldn’t.
- 82% of organizations plan to continue offering home delivery to clients in the future.
“Ending food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetimes. While there’s much work to be done, Project DASH brings us closer to a community where no one is hungry. Home delivery and Project DASH empower us to provide food to those in need.” – Jason Millenson, Sunshine Division
This incredible milestone is made possible by our partners’ efforts to broaden access in their communities. We celebrate 100 million meals (and counting!) and remain committed to ensuring everyone facing food insecurity has access to local delivery.
