DoorDash helps Tri-City faith leaders deliver 300 Thanksgiving meals
With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, Anythony Perry walks to greet a group of church leaders set up in the parking lot of Morning Star Baptist Church in Pasco.
He just returned from delivering a free Thanksgiving meal — packed with turkey, ham, pumpkin pie and vegetables — to an elderly woman who attends church with him at Greater Faith Baptist Church.
It was a 25-mile trip to her home out near Ice Harbor Dam. But that didn’t seem to phase him.
“It’s a blessing to help others,” Perry, 39, said.
Around 50 volunteers gathered Saturday at Morning Star Baptist to hand out about 300 Thanksgiving meals to Tri-City families in need during a drive-through giveaway. Local faith leaders, elected officials and community leaders gathered at the event to kick off the holidays and season of giving.
It was made possible thanks to a partnership between General Baptist Convention Northwest, the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and food delivery company DoorDash.
As part of DoorDash’s Project Dash, there also were local contractors on hand to deliver meals directly to the homes of residents who were unable to stop by.
“There’s a need in this city, area, country for people to have enough food to eat,” said Morning Star Senior Pastor Albert Wilkins.
These meals will feed many families not just for the holiday, but for several days next week, Wilkins said.
New Hope Baptist Church Pastor Wayne Jenkins said it’s their job to provide for those who are in need right now and to serve their community.
“Ministry is not just for inside the church walls. Ministry has to be out in the community,” he said. “This goes beyond, ‘Well I’m going to just pray for you.’ This goes beyond, ‘Well, why don’t you come to service?’ This is going out and meeting people right where they’re at — that’s what makes an impact in people’s lives.”
It’s not just families who are stretched thin during the holidays. In recent years, nonprofits and food banks assisting people at their most vulnerable have had to serve more people with less food and resources.
Churches are playing a bigger role in helping to curb food insecurity.
Garry Tyson, president bishop of the General Baptist Convention Northwest, said this event with DoorDash began last year after he approached the company, which is one of their largest sponsors.
Last year, they handed out 450 meals in Seattle and Portland. This year’s event was their first time distributing in Eastern Washington.
“God spoke to me and told me to bring it to the east side to share with our churches and congregations over here,” Tyson said.
The event also got the attention of local elected officials, who came out to lift boxes and insulated food bags into cars, including Washington Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and Pasco Mayor Blanche Barajas.
“A lot of the people here really do need the help,” said Washington Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, who grew up in the community.
“Right now, when you look at gas prices and grocery prices, our economy is super expensive and it makes it even harder for those who were already living below their means,” she said.
Anna Powell, DoorDash’s manager of government relations Northwest, said, “Food insecurity is an issue across not only the state, but the country. We’re thrilled to provide some assistance and some of our logistics to be able to get food delivered to people, particularly this time of the year when there’s a lot of need around the holidays.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
