Americans can simultaneously support their favorite restaurants and feed the hungry through a new partnership between The Coca-Cola Company and Uber Eats.
Through June 28, for every order placed via the Uber Eats app from a participating restaurant, Feeding America will receive a donation to provide one meal to someone in need, with the goal of providing up to 5 million meals.
According to Feeding America—the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization –the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will disproportionately impact people already at risk of hunger. Based on the organization’s research, the crisis could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity this year, an increase of 46% in the U.S. Additionally, Feeding America estimates that child hunger could reach an all-time high this year, increasing from 11.2 million to 18 million in the U.S.
“The five million meals we hope to provide in partnership with Uber Eats will not only meet a critical need by feeding Americans at risk of hunger—each delivery order also helps to support the many people who work in the restaurant industry as they weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Melissa Fahs, vice president, Foodservice Digital Commerce, Coca-Cola North America.
Coca-Cola and Uber Eats are encouraging people nationwide to show support for local and national favorites by using #welovethisplace on social media.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support of The Coca-Cola Company and Uber Eats—before and during this pandemic,” said Casey Marsh, chief development officer, Feeding America. “We rely on corporate partners and individual supporters to help provide meals to people who struggle to put food on their tables, and the need for food assistance has never been greater.”
Both Coca-Cola and Uber Eats are partners of Feeding America and have been supporting the organization during the pandemic through cause marketing and monetary, product and service donations. As a proud supporter of Feeding America for nearly a year, Uber announced in April that it was partnering with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks to deliver meals to people who need them most, including the homebound elderly, families and more. In addition, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, granted $5 million to Feeding America in March.
“As the effects of the pandemic continue and millions of Americans struggle to access their next meal, we’re proud to partner with Coca-Cola and Feeding America to offer relief to some of the hardest hit populations,” said Julia Paige, director of social impact at Uber. “Since the beginning of our relationship with Feeding America, we’ve donated enough for 10 million meals, and now we’re taking it one step further and calling on eaters to help us give an additional 5 million meals with Coca-Cola. We’re at a moment when the collective actions of many have the potential to impact millions of lives through the simple act of sharing a meal.”