DoorDash program helps improve food access through SNAP, EBT

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - DoorDash is touting a program it started last year to help people facing food insecurity have easier access to groceries.

Since January 2023, DoorDash has allowed SNAP and EBT to be used for grocery deliveries. The company said this has helped eliminate transportation barriers and improve food access for people who are struggling financially.

“We were able to survey DoorDash consumers who have used the platform to order groceries online using SNAP. They told us that overwhelmingly it’s been a great convenience for them, it’s increased food access for them, minimized the stress in their lives [and] reduced the stigma of going in the store and having to use those benefits. It’s also increased access to affordable food options,” said Cheryl Young, head of policy research at DoorDash. “So we know that it’s actually connecting a lot more people to fresh food.”

According to DoorDash, this program has been used over 400 times in Harrisonburg since the program began. That’s just a small slice of the overall impact the program has had. Young said there have been about 100,000 deliveries in Virginia so far, while 1.8 million people have signed up nationwide with their SNAP or EBT information.

DoorDash said it is always looking at how to increase the number of grocery and convenience stores across the U.S. that participate in the program.

“In Virginia specifically, just recently we have added Sheetz as a merchant that people can order their grocery and convenience items from. In addition to that, we have other different grocery stores, and this is why we really highly recommend, as we are expanding and adding on a daily basis, for people to put their SNAP and EBT into the payment source,” said Alanna Shipley, head of audience insights at DoorDash.

Shipley said the DoorDash app will continue to update users on stores and items that become available for purchase using SNAP or EBT.