North Texas Food Bank and DoorDash Mark 1.3 Million Meals Delivered in North Texas

DoorDash’s Project Dash celebrates 100 millionth meal delivered.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33), and DoorDash marked 1.3 million meals delivered to senior North Texans facing hunger during an event on June 21. NTFB’s partnership with DoorDash’s Project DASH powered the deliveries.

This month, DoorDash is celebrating more than 100 million meals delivered through its partners to seniors, parents, and people facing transportation challenges or other barriers to food access. NTFB partners with Project DASH to deliver food boxes to seniors experiencing food insecurity in North Texas. Launched in 2018, Project DASH has powered over 6 million deliveries of more than 100 million meals across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Project DASH began partnering with NTFB in 2020 during the pandemic when many CSFP recipients were sheltering at home. After the height of the pandemic, NTFB and DoorDash found there was still a need for delivery to some older adults who are homebound, whether because of medical, mobility or transportation issues. NTFB and DoorDash now deliver between 1,800 and 2,000 CSFP boxes per month thanks to a generous donation from Plano Super Bowl.

“Many senior adults facing hunger do not have access to transportation or are unable to leave home due to health or mobility issues,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “Project DASH bridges the gap for those neighbors, allowing organizations like NTFB to serve those individuals. These 1.3 million meals delivered exemplify what can be accomplished by working together to ensure no Texan goes hungry. Those meals are especially important as food assistance is more needed than even during the pandemic. A new report from Feeding America shows Texas now leads the nation in hunger, surpassing California, with nearly 5 million people facing hunger.”

Rep. Marc Veasey and State Rep. Mihaela Plesa (TX House District 70) attended the celebration and after providing some remarks, the two helped pack a CSFP box and carry it outside to a Dasher so it could be delivered.

“I congratulate the North Texas Food Bank and DoorDash’s Project DASH on reaching this milestone of 1.3 million meals delivered to people experiencing food insecurity,” said Representative Veasey. “In Congress, I’m dedicated to ensuring our community has the resources it needs to address hunger. This partnership is a game changer ensuring North Texans get the food they need regardless of their circumstances.”

Staff from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (CD-30) and State Rep. Rafael Anchia (TX House District 103) also attended to offer their support.

Mike Pomerantz, Head of Central Region Public Engagement for DoorDash, says they are grateful to work with organizations like NTFB.

“DoorDash is honored to mark 1.3 million meals delivered in North Texas via Project DASH through our partnership with the North Texas Food Bank,” he says. “Project DASH helps ensure that people receive the support they need and breaks down barriers to access for seniors, children, and other people experiencing food insecurity. We’re proud to continue partnering with organizations like North Texas Food Bank that leverage the power of these essential deliveries to serve their communities, ensuring food travels to people rather than the other way around.”

The North Texas Food Bank was surprised and grateful to DoorDash for presenting President and CEO Trisha Cunningham with a $5,000 donation!

According to a 2023 report issued by the Urban Institute, supported by DoorDash, home delivery is a critical tool in reducing barriers to food access, with more than three in four surveyed clients citing trouble traveling to food bank sites because of chronic health conditions or mobility limitations. More than 90 percent of surveyed anti-hunger organizations reported that partnering with DoorDash allowed them to build capacity for services they otherwise would not be able to offer. About three-quarters of surveyed anti-hunger organizations reported that they could reach new populations and over half named reduced staff time and reduced transportation costs as key capacity-expanding benefits of the Project DASH partnership.