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For more than 10 months, healthcare workers across the Atrium Health have cared for hundreds of thousands of patients while fighting a global pandemic.

To provide both front-line workers and support staff throughout the system an opportunity to enjoy one or more nice, relaxing meals with their families at home in the coming weeks, as well as boost the local economy, Atrium Health is investing $11 million in meal vouchers from DoorDash.

Nearly 67,000 teammates who work for the Atrium Health enterprise, whether in the Charlotte region, or at Wake Forest Baptist Health or Atrium Health Navicent, in the Winston-Salem and Macon, Georgia, areas, respectively, have received vouchers worth $50 to $250, depending on their role, classification and full-time or part-time status. They will also receive free DashPass subscriptions for three months offering employees unlimited free delivery fees on DoorDash orders.

System executives and physicians will not receive the vouchers, to maximize the impact among teammates who can benefit the most from them.

“This is a win-win for our healthcare heroes and for the economy of each community we are privileged to serve,” said Eugene A. Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health. “We continue to celebrate the daily sacrifices and commitment of our teammates – from our nurses in the ICU who are treating those suffering from this virus, to our environmental services teammates cleaning rooms, to those in critical support roles behind the scenes – we don’t want a doubt left in any teammate’s mind that we greatly appreciate the life-saving work they are doing.

“We’re not only providing affordable and convenient meals for our teammates, we’re also preserving jobs,” Woods added. “Many restaurants stepped up throughout the pandemic to supply meals to our front-line workers. With this $11 million investment, our teammates can enjoy a night off from cooking, and continue to ‘pay it forward’ and help keep the doors open at local restaurants and businesses.”

There are roughly 2,200 restaurants in metro-Charlotte, 500 in Winston-Salem and 330 in Macon, Georgia. If each of the more than 3,000 restaurants in the primary service areas of Atrium Health were to receive an equal share of the teammates’ dining dollars, that would equate to more than $3,600 in increased sales per restaurant. With an $11 million infusion of purchasing power into local restaurants, Atrium Health aims to provide a boost to these restaurants toward pre-pandemic sales.

“Our DoorDash for Work program hopefully means one less worry for these valued healthcare heroes working around the clock in the service of others,” said Broderick McClinton, head of DoorDash for Work, which is a DoorDash corporate meal solution. “We’re proud to partner with Atrium Health to provide their employees with the peace of mind and convenience afforded by not having to plan or prepare meals for their families. They can choose their favorite cuisine, select from hundreds of restaurants near their home or workplace, and have it delivered to them in 30 minutes, giving them precious time back in their day.”

Along with the vouchers, Atrium Health teammates will receive a 90-day subscription to DashPass for Work, which will provide $10 off their first two orders. Under the program, there is no delivery fee and a reduced service fee on all orders over $12 from participating restaurants. DoorDash also offers a selection of grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience
stores, which teammates can order from as well, if they prefer.

“We are incredibly thankful for such an important investment into the families and lives of those who own and work at restaurants across our state,” said Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. “The restaurant industry has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, and with this tremendous investment by Atrium Health, it can literally be the difference of a family-owned business closing its doors forever or staying open. We’re thrilled to see such an innovative way to support the many healthcare heroes and our restaurant workers at the same time.”