DoorDash is partnering with Foodbank to pilot a new initiative in South Australia designed to empower food banks, food pantries, and other social impact organisations to deliver food and essential items to people experiencing food insecurity.
Each month, approximately 135,000 South Australians experience food insecurity and nationally, 3.7 million households struggled to put a meal on their table last year.
With Project DASH, DoorDash will collaborate with Foodbank SA and On the Run convenience stores across South Australia to gather surplus nonperishable and ambient food items such as canned vegetables, grains, pasta, and other household staples. Dashers will also deliver food hampers to community members in need that may not be able to make it to Foodbank, such as seniors, people with a disability and people facing transportation challenges.
Donations will also be delivered directly to Foodbank through the DoorDash Dasher network, with over 1,000 deliveries planned over the next year to help reduce food waste and alleviate food insecurity in South Australia.
Foodbank SA & NT, headquartered in Edwardstown, serves as the pilot partner for Project Dash in Australia. Recognising the limitations of traditional delivery methods for smaller food donations, DoorDash will collect and distribute smaller boxes of donations from select petrol stations.
Project DASH has been operating in the US for the past five years. Through strategic partnerships with food banks, food pantries, and other social and organisations, DoorDash facilitates deliveries of food and other essential items to people experiencing food insecurity. In the US, the program has resulted in over five million deliveries, more than 80 million estimated meals, and over three million hours saved.
DoorDash general manager, Puji Fernando said, “At DoorDash, we are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve. Our partnership with Foodbank and the pilot of Project DASH in South Australia represents our ongoing work to broaden food access, especially during these challenging times.
“Through Project DASH, we aim to ensure that people experiencing food insecurity have access to nutritious meals. We are excited about the potential impact of Project DASH and look forward to working closely with our partners to make a meaningful difference.”