Instacart, DoorDash, Gopuff offer SNAP aid as benefits pause looms

Several large delivery and grocery companies announced emergency measures Friday to ease strain on households that receive federal food assistance as the government prepares to pause Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments on Nov. 1 because of a partial government shutdown. Instacart, DoorDash and Gopuff said they would provide discounts, fee waivers and increased food-bank support to help SNAP recipients who could face a gap in benefits.

Instacart said any customer who used a SNAP EBT card to place an order in October will receive a one-time credit of $50 on their next grocery order, and the company will expand its online food-drive program from 100 to more than 300 food banks. Instacart said the two initiatives together amount to $5 million in direct relief. "As SNAP funding faces unprecedented disruption and food banks brace for longer lines, we're focused on practical, immediate solutions helping families who use SNAP stretch their grocery dollars and helping food banks stock up to support their communities," Instacart chief corporate affairs officer Dani Dudeck said.

DoorDash said it will waive service and delivery fees for an estimated 300,000 orders for SNAP...