DoorDash brings free produce to San Antonio schools

Families in seven San Antonio elementary schools now receive fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost to them. Brighter Bites, a local nonprofit, coordinates these deliveries through DoorDash every other week. This arrangement removes the transportation burden for households in the South Side Independent School District.

Elizabeth Velarde, Brighter Bites senior program manager, said the direct financial impact helps families manage their budgets. “Groceries being as expensive as they are, it does provide a little bit of relief to their grocery budget,” Velarde said. The organization also uses the program to teach students about nutrition. Staff members visit classrooms to help children make healthier food choices.

Velarde stated the goal is to shift long-term behavior. “We’re teaching kids how to eat better, make better choices when it comes to what they eat, what they snack on,” she said. The nonprofit encourages parents to continue this education at home. The DoorDash partnership supports this by making fresh produce more accessible without requiring parents to drive to stores.

Sheneka Willis, a DoorDash driver, has completed 70 Brighter Bites orders. She described the work as deeply meaningful due to her own history. “I used to be a low-income single parent as a teen mom. And so I’ve lived in low-income housing. I’ve been on food stamps. It means a lot, you know, every little bit helps,” Willis said.

A Feeding America study indicates that one in five people in the Southwest Texas region are food insecure. SNAP cuts have made it harder for some families to afford food. Brighter Bites works to remove barriers to healthy eating in response to these conditions.

Demand for the program is increasing. Velarde noted that schools are currently on a waiting list to bring the service to their communities. “Knowing that we have schools kind of on a waiting list waiting to get this program into their schools, into their communities, has really been rewarding,” she said. Any school can apply for free to work with the nonprofit.