In an effort to battle hunger, the North Texas Food Bank and DoorDash have delivered 1.3 million meals to North Texas seniors through Project DASH. The local nonprofit and the delivery app giant marked the meal milestone on Friday, exemplifying how the gig economy can deliver more than just takeout.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth commemorated the occasion by handing off a ceremonial food box to a “Dasher.” It was a timely achievement for a region aiming to take a bite out of rising food insecurity—and a taste of how tech partnerships might help address hunger here and beyond.

The need is urgent and growing, according to Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “Many senior adults facing hunger lack access to transportation or are unable to leave home due to health or mobility issues,” she said in a statement. “Project DASH addresses this challenge, enabling organizations like NTFB to reach these individuals.”

Cunningham noted that food assistance demand has surpassed pandemic levels, making Project DASH meals particularly critical now. “A recent report from Feeding America reveals that Texas has surpassed California to become the state with the highest number of people facing hunger, with nearly 5 million residents affected,” she said.

Reducing barriers to food access

In North Texas, NTFB partners with Project DASH to deliver food boxes to seniors experiencing food insecurity.

Launched in 2018, Project DASH has enabled more than 6 million deliveries of more than 100 million meals across the U.S., Canada, and Australia—1.3 million of them in North Texas through the local food bank partnership, according to U.S. Rep. Veasey, D-Fort Worth, who represents the 33rd Congressional District of Texas.

In a statement, Veasey called the partnership a “game changer,” helping North Texans get the food they need “regardless of their circumstances.”

“I congratulate the North Texas Food Bank and DoorDash’s Project DASH on reaching this milestone,” Veasey said in a statement, adding that he’s working in Congress to ensure the community has the resources it needs to address hunger.

As DoorDash celebrates delivering more than 100 million meals to seniors, parents, and people facing transportation challenges or other barriers to food access this month, Mike Pomerantz, head of Central Region Public Engagement at DoorDash, highlighted the program’s significance.

Home delivery is a critical tool for food access

“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,” Pomerantz said in a statement. “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.”

Citing a 2023 report issued by the Urban Institute, supported by DoorDash, the company emphasized that 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 due to chronic health conditions or mobility limitations.

“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,” Pomerantz added.

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

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