Using DoorDash to deliver food boxes to local families: Ride United
Families shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Unfortunately, almost half of Lane County families struggle with this: according to the 2021 ALICE report, 46% of Lane County families can barely make ends meet.
“I can't sleep at night if I have to figure out how my kids are going to be fed, about my husband’s job loss, rent, utilities.” - local parent Mary Jane Hopkins in a recent interview with KVAL reporter Kendall Bartley
Watch KVAL’s recent coverage on the impact of Ride United here!
Despite a variety of food pantries available across the county, transportation challenges often mean families can’t access these free resources. Without reliable transportation, picking up a weekly food box can almost be impossible, between a parent’s work schedule, food pantry hours, limited or lack of child care, and health concerns, and more.
Thankfully, an innovative partnership is leveraging meal delivery apps and the gig economy to deliver food boxes straight to families doors, through Ride United.
Ride United food boxes being packed for delivery at Head Start of Lane County’s food panty. Photo courtesy of KVAL & Kendall Bartley
As KVAL reported earlier this month, Head Start of Lane County is one of a dozen Lane County programs are using United Way’s Ride United program, which enables them to use DoorDash to send food boxes straight to the doors of families in need. Every other Friday, they pack Dashers’ cars full of food boxes for families who can’t pick them up themselves.
United Way of Lane County was one of just 19 organizations piloting this program in 2020 when we brought it to Lane County.
To date, over 14 local organizations, including Head Start, NAACP, and Florence Food Share, have used Ride United to make over 22,000 deliveries of food boxes and holiday meals to Lane County families. This comes at no cost to the programs, nor the families; United Way covers the reduced cost of deliveries through local fundraising efforts.
“Before, we were doing this all by ourselves. We had staff that are trying to do their regular jobs then they’re trying to deliver food, but I think with United Way for me it shows that in our community if we all work together, it’s amazing the impact we can make together.”
This is the power of United Way.
United Way mobilizes people and resources to find innovative solutions to local challenges, so that we not only address immediate needs today, but help change community conditions and improve outcomes tomorrow.
It's only because of the support of donors like you that this work is possible. Consider making a gift to support Ride United and United Way’s efforts today.
Thank you again for your commitment children and families!