In August 2021, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank teamed up with DoorDash for Project DASH, which leverages the same technology available to DoorDash’s merchant partners to empower community organizations to reach their clients and increase access to food and other important resources in their communities. As a result of this partnership, between August 2021 and July 2022, more than 68,000 deliveries for the LA Regional Food Bank have been made across Los Angeles County.
As part of Hunger Action Month in September, the Food Bank and DoorDash came together to celebrate the accomplishments of Project DASH and raise awareness about the fight against food insecurity.
When the pandemic hit, everyone was asked to stay home, leaving many seniors at risk and without access to food. Thanks to programs like Project DASH, the Food Bank and its 600+ partner agencies were able to reach those who needed food delivered to their homes safely.
“Project DASH has been invaluable in helping us ramp up our food delivery,” said Roger Castle, Food Bank Chief Development Officer. “Using programs like Project DASH to deliver food to people would continue to help expand our distribution method.”
Every Wednesday and Thursday at our 41st Street and City of Industry warehouses, the Food Bank prepares food kits to be picked up by Dashers and then delivered to homes within a 15-mile radius.
Typically, Dashers check in with the Food Bank program and operations staff and are then on their way. But in September, the Food Bank had the opportunity to meet Matthews Henrique, a Dasher who was excited about the program after his curiosity led him to his first delivery. After completing his first order, Henrique knew he wanted to continue completing Project DASH deliveries.
“I got a Project DASH order, and I accepted it because I saw it said ‘LA Regional Food Bank’ and then when I realized what it was, and I got here and saw what they were doing, it actually felt fulfilling,” Henrique said.
“When you deliver these boxes, it feels good. It feels great to deliver to the elderly people because they normally can’t go out and get their own things because of the pandemic. They’re very grateful and very kind,” he added.