Hands On Hartford, DoorDash Announce $10,000 Donation to Support “Backpack Nutrition Program”
Program addresses weekend food insecurity among schoolchildren in the capital city; need for program support is more critical than ever due to recent federal funding cuts
Hartford, Conn. (January 22, 2026) – Hands On Hartford, a non-profit social service agency serving Hartford’s most vulnerable residents, recently received a $10,000 donation in support of the agency’s Backpack Nutrition Program. The donation, made through the company’s Community Credits program, was announced on January 16 at an event featuring Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.
The Backpack Nutrition Program addresses food insecurity among Hartford schoolchildren by distributing backpacks filled with healthy food and other essentials for the weekend to more than 230 students across seven schools. While many Hartford students receive free breakfast and lunch during the school week, weekends can be challenging for children facing food insecurity. Hands On Hartford’s Backpack Nutrition Program addresses this gap by distributing backpacks filled with meals, fresh fruit, drinks, snacks, school supplies, and more every Friday during the school year.
"No child in Hartford should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from when they leave school on Friday afternoon,” said Mayor Arulampalam. “In the face of significant federal funding cuts, our community partners are stepping up to ensure that our students remain fed, healthy, and ready to learn. I am grateful to DoorDash and Hands On Hartford for their collaboration in closing the weekend hunger gap and for their unwavering commitment to the well-being of our city’s most vulnerable families."
The loss of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s LFPA grant in 2025 resulted in a $60,000 funding shortfall for the Backpack Nutrition Program, eliminating a key source of support for the purchase of fresh fruit. DoorDash’s contribution helps Hands On Hartford mitigate this loss and continue providing fresh fruit to children throughout the school year—essential to their health, well-being, and academic success.
“No family should have to worry about their children not having enough to eat over the weekend,” said Janet Bermudez, Executive Director at Hands On Hartford. “Our program helps ease that burden for 230 children by providing a backpack with breakfast, lunch, and fresh fruit throughout the school year. This commitment to our community would not be possible without the generous support of partners like DoorDash, and we are deeply grateful for their response to our call to action.”
An estimated 62% of families participating in the Backpack Nutrition Program report annual household incomes below $15,000, and many rely on the backpacks as a primary food source over the weekend. Because food is frequently shared among siblings, the program’s reach extends beyond enrolled students, benefiting an estimated 800 children each year.
“For many students, schools are not only a place to learn, they are also the only place they can count on receiving the nutrition they need to succeed,” said Daniela Michanie, Head of Northeast Public Engagement at DoorDash. "Organizations like Hands on Hartford support students, ensuring that they receive essential meals not only during the week, but also over the weekend. Community Credits are designed to support the work local organizations are already doing to fight hunger in their communities, and we are proud of our partnership with Hands On Hartford to keep children fed over the weekend in the capital city.”
About DoorDash
DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) is one of the world's leading local commerce platforms that helps businesses of all kinds grow and innovate, connects consumers to the best of their neighborhoods, and gives people fast, flexible ways to earn. Since its founding in 2013, DoorDash has expanded to more than 40 countries, using technology and logistics to shape the future of local commerce and broaden access to opportunity. With a growing international presence that now includes Deliveroo and Wolt, DoorDash combines global scale with local expertise to serve communities around the world.
Media Contact:
Justin May on behalf of DoorDash
jmay@gbpr.com
860-839-1538