PHOTOS: Houston Humane Society, DoorDash expands partnership to deliver much-needed pet food to families in need
The Houston Humane Society, one of the region’s largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to animal welfare, has announced a new partnership with DoorDash to power free deliveries of pet food to Houston pet owners in need via Project DASH.
The partnership will expand community access to Houston Humane Society’s Pet Pantry Monthly Assistance Program by offering no-cost deliveries of pet food to qualifying households in ZIP codes across Greater Houston.
Since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, Houston Humane Society has provided pet food assistance for vulnerable households through monthly, drive-up distribution events. This new partnership, which delivers pet food to the client’s doorstep, will be helpful for qualifying pet owners who face mobility challenges, such as the disabled, seniors or those with limited access to transportation.
“We are excited to partner with Project DASH, a forward-thinking initiative by DoorDash that empowers nonprofit organizations like Houston Humane Society to increase distribution of essential items like pet food to those in need in our communities,” said Gary Poon, president and CEO of Houston Humane Society. “We know from experience that the best thing we can do for pets is keep them safe at home, with their families and out of the shelters. This partnership with DoorDash helps us to promote animal health by providing extra pet nutrition for families that love their pets but find themselves financially struggling.”
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Poon added that, since COVID-19 shutdowns began, the nonprofit has seen consistent urgency in the fight against hunger for both pet owners and their pets. Because of the continued hardships experienced by struggling households in these inflationary times, Poon and the pet resources team at Houston Humane Society recognize that some pet owners need help.
By partnering with Project DASH, Houston Humane Society can increase the dignity and convenience of pet food assistance for vulnerable households, giving time back to people who are balancing work and caring for families. The partnership also allows the shelter to reach qualifying homebound pet owners who previously could not travel to the shelter to pick up monthly allocations of pet food.
“We are honored to partner with Houston Humane Society to broaden access for pet owners,” said Kelly Jones, DoorDash Drive Director of Government and Nonprofit. “Local delivery has been critical in supporting food banks, food pantries and pet pantries provision of food and other essentials while emphasizing convenience and dignity. We’re excited to continue growing this work in a sustainable way for our partners across the country to continue to meet the ongoing need.”
Delivery radiuses for the program will be determined based on the areas of Houston with the most accepted applications. Once in the program, food will be delivered to pet owners’ doors once per month for up to six months. While these deliveries are not intended to provide an entire months’ worth of food or to support pets permanently, they serve as an important supplement to meet the monthly nutritional needs of pets during increasingly challenging economic times.
Proof of income or of enrollment in a government assistance program is required to qualify for the Pet Pantry Monthly Assistance Program. Accepted applicants will be notified by Houston Humane Society of the DoorDash delivery dates, which will be established monthly based on the number of Project Dash deliveries requested.
To apply for pet food deliveries through Houston Humane Society’s Pet Pantry Monthly Assistance Program, visit https://www.houstonhumane.org/events-pointer/pet-pantry/pet-pantry-map-application. Since Project DASH was launched in 2018, it has powered over 2.5 million deliveries of an estimated more than 50 million meals in the U.S. and Canada. Organizations that would like to partner with Project DASH can click here for more information.
Houston Humane Society is one of the area’s largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending cruelty, abuse and overpopulation of animals while providing the highest quality of life to those brought to the shelter for care. With its headquarters located at 14700 Almeda Rd., Houston Humane Society offers adoption, low-cost services and pet resources, cruelty investigations and adoptions, and is the only regional shelter with a full-service veterinary clinic open to the public. To learn more, visit www.houstonhumane.org.
