The Kenai Senior Center will use DoorDash to deliver 500 meals to seniors through the end of this year after unanimous adoption of an ordinance by the Kenai City Council on Sept. 4 that accepts a $2,500 grant from Meals on Wheels of America.
A memo attached to the grant says that the nationwide Meals on Wheels Association is collaborating with gig food delivery service DoorDash for “enhancing meal transportations services for seniors.”
Kenai Senior Center Administrative Assistant Red Piersee told the council that the city was fortunate to receive the grant, which has “a long waiting list.”
The local Meals on Wheels drivers, Piersee said, haven’t been able to spend as much time with the seniors they serve — a part of their service that can be just as valuable as the food — because of short staffing. Starting last week, she said, DoorDash will be handling delivery of “weekly boxes,” which go to people more concerned with food insecurity than socialization.
“It will provide my drivers the ability to have some quality time with seniors that they’ve not been able to do recently,” she said.
The council approved the ordinance without further discussion.
A full recording of the meeting and the text of the ordinance is available at kenai.city.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
