DoorDash, the popular food delivery app, is helping to bring boxes of food from the United Way and the Salvation Army to Connecticut residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office announced Wednesday.
Residents in Bridgeport, Torrington, and Waterbury in need can call 211 for a delivery. United Way coordinates food packages from Salvation Army pantries, which are then delivered by DoorDash.
“This pandemic forced our state to think outside the box when it has come to the delivery of services, and even the delivery of food to those who need it,” Lamont said Wednesday in a prepared statement.
“This collaboration is critical to making sure families across our state do not go hungry, and it’s a creative use of resources to help so many of our residents get through this crisis, which has impacted both our public health and our economy,” he added.
The program was originally set up to deliver prepared meals to people in need. As the pandemic as worn on, the meal delivery service has become a food box program. Groceries sent out to families include goods like canned foods, apple sauce, and rice, the governor’s office said.
The food box delivery service has been active for three weeks so far.
The program is aimed at people who are at risk if they leave their home — typically over the age of 65, the governor’s office said. It’s being overseen by the state’s agriculture commissioner.
“While the Salvation Army has been actively serving food boxes to families in Connecticut since last March, we are especially grateful for this new partnership with the state of Connecticut, United Way 211, and Door Dash, where we can ensure people in quarantine may continue to have meals delivered to their place of residence,” said Gregory Hartshorn, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Southern New England Division