Grocers Agree to Waive SNAP Recipients’ DoorDash Delivery Fees

Several grocery chains have joined DoorDash’s effort to help SNAP recipients amid the government shutdown.

The ongoing shutdown means that federal food aid did not go out as scheduled on Nov. 1 to people taking part in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits (SNAP) program. The Trump administration has also said it would not use $5 billion in emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits coming through the next month.

In response, DoorDash has announced an Emergency Food Response for SNAP recipients and Project DASH partners who may be affected by the loss of SNAP benefits, along with additional contributions of food from DashMart locations, Chain Store Age reported Friday (Oct. 31).

More than a dozen grocery store chains, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, ShopRite and Winn-Dixie, have expanded support for SNAP recipients on DoorDash by waiving delivery and service fees on one grocery order from their stores for SNAP recipients this month, the report added. Also taking part are Dollar General, Giant Foods and Wegmans.

“As the SNAP funding cliff approaches, the alarm is growing louder. More families are growing worried about putting food on the table,” said Max Rettig, vice president and global head of public policy at DoorDash.

“We’re proud that more of our grocery partners are stepping up and joining in this fight alongside us, and we’re committed to being there for our neighbors in need for as long as it takes.”

Another delivery platform, Gopuff, said last week it will offer $50 in free groceries to SNAP recipients during November.

Research by PYMNTS Intelligence has found that consumers who struggle financially were the most likely to buy their groceries exclusively online.

While 7.2% of all consumers shopped for groceries exclusively online, that number climbed to 10.4% for people living paycheck to paycheck with issues paying bills, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence report “Changes in Grocery Shopping Habits and Perceptions.”

Meanwhile, the shutdown continues to impact other areas of American life. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said last week that the impasse is putting at risk $3 billion a week that would have been earned by 65,500 small business contractors.

“The Chamber is again calling on Congress to immediately pass the continuing resolution to reopen and fund the government,” Neil Bradley, executive vice president, chief policy officer and head of strategic advocacy, wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

“We also urge Congress to consider ways to help make federal contractors, especially small business contractors, whole.”