Pikes Peak United Way teams up with DoorDash to help people in need

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Pikes Peak United Way (PPUW) has partnered with a delivery service to provide food for people struggling with access to meals.

Monday, Pikes Peak United Way announced the launch of the Ride United Last Mile Delivery (RULMD) program. According to officials, the program was made possible through the partnership with DoorDash's Project DASH.

The program is designed to help seniors, people with health issues, and those struggling with transportation or the economic impact of COVID-19.

This is a nationwide program, and last year DoorDash provided more than 500,000 free food deliveries.

According to United Way, the most pressing need right now in our community is a transportation and food access.

"Seeing an increase in food with gas prices going up. Transportation is difficult already and sometimes people don’t have time to wait in line to get food because it’s three hours or it goes quickly, it's not close enough to their house. This allows people to just have it delivered right to their door and have stability and sustenance that they so desperately need," said Heather Steinman, the COO for Pikes Peak United Way.

According to PPUW, DoorDash provided more than 500,000 free food deliveries nationally in 2021. After seeing large-scale programmatic success among similarly vulnerable populations, Pikes Peak United way 211 decided to partner with DoorDash to bring the program to Colorado Springs.

The Pikes Peak United Way 211 team reportedly responded to nearly 36,000 calls in 2021. Of those calls, officials say 1,400 were where the primary request was food.

Anyone who lives within a 10 miles radius of the Care and Share distribution center in Colorado Springs or Fountain is eligible. Deliveries can be requested by calling 2-1-1. For more information, click here.