Whether it’s a hurricane or a house fire, families and communities can find themselves without even the most basic supplies in the moments after a disaster occurs. As a business that strives to get products quickly to customers, we recognize our opportunity to utilize our logistics networks, local inventory, and delivery capabilities to get essential items delivered to affected families.

In partnership with the American Red Cross, we are committing $450,000 in financial and in-kind donations to help support disaster relief efforts. Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters impacting communities across the United States—the majority of which are home fires. Through its Disaster Responder Program, the Red Cross supports families as they recover from disasters and prepares communities for future emergencies. Gopuff’s donation of $250,000 will help ensure the Red Cross is prepared to meet the needs of people affected by disasters across the U.S.

But we also want to leverage our capabilities to help people directly. So, as part of this partnership, Gopuff and the Red Cross are launching a new, first-of-its-kind pilot in our hometown of Philadelphia to deliver essentials to those affected by a disaster.

Here’s how this new program will work: when a disaster happens in Philadelphia, Red Cross caseworkers will identify the people and families impacted and determine what is needed and where. Local Gopuff locations in Philly will collect these essentials so they can be delivered to those affected. We are uniquely capable of helping in these instances – as we have previously – by utilizing our logistics network, our supply chain, our wide array of essentials stocked locally, and our coverage of the region through our many locations.

We will help the Red Cross support victims of disasters in the moments when people’s needs for basic supplies are greatest. We have already pledged $200,000 worth of essentials to this program, including items like food, baby supplies, pet food, phone chargers, batteries, and pens and pencils. These items will complement the Red Cross’ relief kits to help people manage through these challenging moments.

By doing this in partnership with the Red Cross, we will combine the Red Cross’ experience responding to disasters with Gopuff’s commitment to help get much-needed items delivered.

The American Red Cross name and logo and copyrighted materials are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion, or political position. The American Red Cross name and logo are registered trademarks owned by the American National Red Cross.