Today, Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund) announced a $2.3 million investment in mobility solutions that will expand access to food for underserved and transportation-limited communities. The investment brings together Ford Fund with local food banks, DoorDash and Feeding America® to help individuals and families access the food they need through mobile delivery.
Under the investment, Ford Fund has committed $320,000 to participating food banks in Detroit, Louisville and Memphis to broaden access to food and fresh produce to 2,500 households each month using home delivery via DoorDash.
The announcement comes during Hunger Action Month, which takes place every September, and at a time when over 34 million Americans, including 9 million children are facing hunger. Ford Fund has a long history of supporting local communities through food services at its Ford Resource and Engagement Centers, which bring nonprofits, residents and leaders together to support their neighborhoods. In partnership with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Ford’s community resource centers in Southwest Detroit and on Detroit’s east side distribute food to 1,500 families every week via client pickup and home delivery for under-served and transportation-limited residents.
By investing in mobility solutions, Ford Fund and its partners are helping bridge the gap between access to transportation and food.
“More people are experiencing food insecurity, causing an unprecedented strain on families and food banks across the country,” said Luisa Schumacher, senior manager of Essential Services at Ford Fund. “We are committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with local organizations to address the rise in food insecurity by expanding access to food in our Ford communities.”
Ford Fund is also committing $1.25M in innovation grants to Feeding America food banks in Ford’s priority communities later this year. The grants will enable food banks to create and scale mobility solutions that address food insecurities, such as access to fresh food in areas where it is otherwise unavailable. Participating food banks will be in upstate New York, Illinois, Ohio, Southeast Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and South Florida.
The remaining investments are committed to partnerships with:
- Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
- Fishes and Loaves in Southeast Michigan
- Detroit Food Academy
- The Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club
- Eastern Market in Detroit
Through collective action, Ford Fund and its partners are addressing the immediate challenges of food insecurity and creating sustainable solutions for a better future. Together, we are working tirelessly to ensure no one goes to bed hungry in the communities we serve.