Bridging the Grocery Gap: Instacart and D.C. Team Up to Fight Food Insecurity in the Nation's Capital

At Instacart, we believe technology can help close nutrition disparities by making healthy food more accessible to everyone. At a time when more than one in 8 Americans struggle with food insecurity, Instacart reaches over 98% of U.S. households, including nearly 98% of those in limited food access areas, delivering nutritious food directly to their doorsteps.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Instacart is partnering with the D.C. Department of Health (D.C. Health) and Martha’s Table to launch the Grocery Access Pilot (GAP) program in Washington, D.C. This new program uses Instacart’s platform to expand access to fresh, healthy food for residents in underserved neighborhoods by unlocking delivery access from trusted local grocers. Our largest government partnership to date, as measured by participant reach, this initiative will see up to 1,000 D.C. households receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership as well as a monthly Instacart Health Fresh Funds stipend to help cover the costs of online grocery delivery. 

This new initiative is not only designed to connect food-insecure households to nutritious food — it’s also built to empower participants to make healthier lifestyle choices that will benefit their entire family.

Made possible through the dedicated efforts of leaders like Councilmember Christina Henderson to bring such an initiative to D.C., this new program in the nation’s capital builds on the success of a similar pilot with Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and the City of Columbia, South Carolina. In Columbia, the program has already demonstrated significant progress in addressing food insecurity, with 75% of participants reporting they're "very likely" to continue participating in the program after its first year.

Together, these initiatives exemplify how Instacart’s technology is helping more local governments unlock and scale programs that deliver measurable results. In recent years, we’ve been proud to partner with city and county officials in Columbia, South Carolina, Montgomery County, Maryland, and now Washington, D.C., helping municipalities tap into the power of technology to make nutritious food more accessible to their constituents.

This work also builds on our longstanding commitment to tackling food access barriers in and around Washington, D.C. Recently, we expanded our partnership with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) through the Good Food at Home program, providing families with Fresh Funds to buy fresh fruits and vegetables on Instacart. We’re also proud to partner with local leaders like the Capital Area Food Bank and DC Central Kitchen to strengthen access to nutritious food throughout the city.

At Instacart, we’ve seen firsthand the power of public-private partnerships to expand access to nutritious food and foster healthier communities. No one understands what communities need like local leaders on the ground. Meanwhile, the private sector can bring the innovation needed to turn those community insights into impactful, scalable solutions. 

We’re looking forward to continuing to build on our joint progress and helping even more communities access nutritious food. Together, we can drive meaningful change and take significant steps toward combating food insecurity, expanding food access for underserved communities and eliminating food deserts across the nation.