West Suburban Community Pantry partners with DoorDash to deliver 10,000 food orders to those in need
The West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge has made more than 10,000 home deliveries of nutritious food and groceries to neighbors in need in DuPage and Will counties in partnership with Project DASH, a program that provides Door Dash drivers to deliver food ordered through its online market.
The program helps the pantry extend its reach to seniors, working parents and those who experience barriers with mobility, transportation, child care or other issues.
Door Dash subsidized the cost of delivery through a grant which pays Dashers the normal delivery fee, up to the total grant amount. The Pantry received a grant of $7,500.
“We are committed to providing families with access to nutritious food in a convenient and dignified way,” said West Suburban Community Pantry CEO Maeven Sipes. “Partnering with Project DASH has been extremely beneficial for our neighbors who aren’t able to come to the pantry. Offering home delivery with DoorDash is a great complement to WSCP’s online market so neighbors can choose the foods they need and receive them right to their door.
“We’ve had other funders see the impact and support this program, and it is our hope to continue by identifying additional Project DASH funding or other grants to support the program,” Sipes said.
In a report issued by the Urban Institute and supported by Door Dash, “Connecting People with Charitable Food through New Home Delivery Partnerships,” found that home delivery has helped alleviate organization’s capacity challenges in implementing home delivery, reduced stigma and enhanced convenience for clients by connecting hard-to-reach populations with charitable food. The service also expanded the communities that anti-hunger organizations served.
Importantly, the report finds that home delivery of charitable food, which expanded over the course of the pandemic, has become a permanent part of the food access ecosystem and one which needs sustainable funding solutions.
Silvia, a West Suburban Community Pantry neighbor, appreciates being able to choose the foods she needs for her daughter with special needs. “The fruits and vegetables from the pantry are really important for her health. This helps me so much,” she said. “I don’t know what I would do without it.”
West Suburban Community Pantry provides food and resources to people facing hunger, unlocking access to nutritious meals and strengthening hope for tomorrow.
Rooted in the community for 55 years, the pantry offers an in-person food pantry in Woodridge, Online Market with Door Dash delivery option, and senior home delivery to households in DuPage and Will counties.
The pantry also offers a variety of child programs during the school year and in the summer months. Support services connect families to financial assistance, community resources and a variety of free workshops for both adults and children. Visit www.wscpantry.org and Facebook and Instagram to learn more.