MetroHartford Alliance investor DoorDash recently recognized September as Hunger Action Month with community partners Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury and New Reach in New Haven at two separate events last month.
Since 2022, Daily Bread and DoorDash have partnered through the company’s Project DASH program, which empowers social impact organizations such as food banks and pantries to work with Dashers and use DoorDash technology to increase access to food in their communities. Together, Daily Bread and DoorDash have made more than 2,500 food deliveries to those in need in Greater Danbury. Partners like Daily Bread have helped DoorDash deliver more than 150 million meals across the country through Project DASH since 2018.
Additionally, DoorDash donated $5,000 to Daily Bread through its Community Credits program, which provides DoorDash gift cards directly to nonprofit organizations working to empower local communities with greater access to food, essentials, and more, to use however they see fit.
“Access to food should never depend on whether someone has the ability to get across town,” said Mayor Roberto L. Alves. “This partnership between Daily Bread and DoorDash is meeting our neighbors where they are and helping ensure that families throughout Danbury can receive the support they need with dignity. I am grateful to Daily Bread, DoorDash, and everyone working to turn compassion into meaningful action during Hunger Action Month and every day.”
"Daily Bread's partnership with DoorDash has allowed us to help those in need whom we otherwise would not be able to reach,” said Daily Bread President Peter Kent. “Leveraging their technology and resources enabled us to set up a home delivery program quickly and operate it efficiently. With the additional funding from DoorDash announced today, we will be able to extend the program further."
“Many of us think of DoorDash as a way to get your local restaurant and retail orders delivered to your door, but local delivery is a transformational solution that also enables food banks and food pantries to serve families in a safe, reliable, and efficient way,” said DoorDash Head of Northeast Government Relations Christina Kennedy. “I speak for the whole DoorDash team when I say how thankful we are for our partnership with Daily Bread, and we look forward to continuing our work together to combat food insecurity here in Connecticut.”
New Reach helps families overcome hunger through prevention and crisis services, including its two Emergency Shelters and its Food in Service to the Homebound (FISH) program, which delivers groceries and essential items to homebound Connecticut residents due to age, disability, or other barriers. It is the only program of its kind in Connecticut, and New Reach delivers over 2,500 bags of groceries each month through the program, which served 875 individuals last year.
At the event, DoorDash presented New Reach with a $5,000 donation through the company’s Community Credits program. To date, DoorDash has provided more than $10,000 in support of New Reach and its FISH program, and over $11 million in Community Credits to nonprofit organizations nationwide since the program launched in 2021.
From left to right: New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker; New Haven Ward 10 Alder Anna Festa; Daniela Michanie, DoorDash; Kellyann Day, New Reach; Lou Mangini, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s Office.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said, “With the rising costs of groceries and other household expenses, it’s increasingly more and more of a struggle for many individuals to feed themselves and their families. New Reach and FISH are critical partners in helping individuals and families who are homebound receive regular deliveries of groceries, meals, and other essential items. Having a food delivery pantry like FISH and a food delivery service like DoorDash working together is a natural partnership that will help FISH deliver on its mission to ensure more New Haveners are fed and cared for across the Elm City.”
“With rents increasing significantly in recent years, many families in Connecticut are forced to choose between paying rent and buying groceries,” said New Reach CEO Kellyann Day. “In addition to helping us serve homebound individuals and families, DoorDash’s partnership with New Reach also helps ease housing instability by reducing financial strain around food access. We are so grateful for the City of New Haven and DoorDash’s support in helping families across the region overcome food insecurity.”
“Community Credits are designed to support the work local organizations across the country, like New Reach, are already doing to fight hunger in their communities and expand their reach to more people in need,” said DoorDash Head of Northeast Public Engagement Daniela Michanie. “The program reflects our broader commitment to fighting hunger by working alongside organizations on the ground and supporting community-led solutions. I speak for the whole DoorDash team when I say how thankful we are for our continued partnership with New Reach.”
For more information, visit the DoorDash Impact webpage.