The impending government shutdown has put more than 42 million American families at risk of losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting Saturday. In response to this crisis, DoorDash has launched an Emergency Food Response initiative through its Project DASH, aiming to deliver one million free meals and waive fees for SNAP recipients.
DoorDash’s commitment to alleviating hunger is evident in their recent announcement. The company plans to deliver one million meals in partnership with over 300 Project DASH partners across the country. Additionally, DoorDash is waiving merchant fees for all participating food banks, pantries, and community organizations throughout November, which is projected to equal one million meals.
Furthermore, DoorDash will waive delivery and service fees for grocery orders made by SNAP recipients. This initiative is expected to assist approximately 300,000 grocery orders this month. Customers who have linked their SNAP or EBT cards to their DoorDash profiles can benefit from this program at participating grocery stores including Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Ahold Delhaize brands, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle, and Wegmans.
In addition to meal deliveries, DoorDash will also donate fresh food, shelf-stable items, and household essentials from its DashMart locations to local food banks in communities affected by the shutdown.
“No one should go hungry in America—period,” stated Max Rettig, Vice President and Global Head of Public Policy at DoorDash. “Millions of families are worried right now about how they’ll put food on the table. Fighting hunger is core to our mission at DoorDash, and we’re stepping up alongside leading grocers and retailers to help bridge the gap. We know this is a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing simply isn’t an option.”
DoorDash is also urging Congress to unite in support of continuing funding for SNAP, which is the largest food aid program in the United States. The company acknowledged that its response alone cannot match the scale of the ongoing crisis, especially as this government shutdown marks the second-longest in U.S. history.
As the situation develops, DoorDash’s efforts aim to provide immediate relief to families facing uncertainty about their food security. The company’s initiative underscores a proactive approach to addressing hunger during a critical time for millions of Americans.
