DoorDash launches emergency food aid as SNAP shutdown threatens millions

With food aid set to expire on Saturday amid the ongoing government shutdown, DoorDash announced over the weekend the launch of an “emergency food response” to support those in need throughout the month of November.

In an announcement Sunday, the food delivery company said it plans to provide nearly 1 million free meals through its food bank partners, waive fees for 300,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who order groceries from participating retailers and donate food from its online convenience store, DashMart, to local food banks.

“No one should go hungry in America,” Max Rettig, vice president and global head of public policy at DoorDash, said in a statement.

“Right now, millions of families are worried about how to put food on the table. Fighting hunger is at the core of our mission at DoorDash, and we’re stepping up alongside major grocers and retailers to help bridge the gap. We know this is just a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing is not an option.”

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According to the company, DoorDash will deliver food on behalf of more than 300 food banks and pantry partners across the country — the equivalent of about 1 million meals — through its Project DASH program. The company said that, through the initiative, it was able to complete more than 8 million deliveries, equivalent to about 135 million meals.

DoorDash said it is also teaming up with major grocery companies — including Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Ahold Delhaize brands, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle and Wegmans — to waive delivery and service fees for an estimated 300,000 orders placed by SNAP recipients. Customers will simply need to link their SNAP/EBT card to their profile when ordering.

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Workers pack food boxes at a food bank in Garden Grove, California, on May 9, 2025. (Paul Biersbach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images)

Additionally, DoorDash will contribute fresh food, perseverable items and household supplies from its DashMart locations to support local food banks in affected communities.

“Food security for millions of people who depend on SNAP is at grave risk,” Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger, said in a statement, warning that a federal government shutdown could suspend SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans — citing 21 million children, 16 million working families, and 5 million seniors.

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A DoorDash delivery bag lies on the ground in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2020. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via/Getty Images)

“We know that the only viable solution is to ensure that SNAP benefits are fully delivered to those who need food assistance as quickly as possible,” Mitchell said. “We are grateful for the role that businesses and organizations across the country like DoorDash can play to try to bridge the gap, and we will continue to work tirelessly to make sure SNAP and its protections are restored quickly and fully.”