The Phoenix East Valley is known as a hotbed of technological innovation. One compelling example shows how that innovation can be deployed to extend a lifeline to those most in need during critical times.
During the pandemic, autonomous driving technology company Waymo partnered with AZCEND, a Chandler, Arizona-based nonprofit, to meet a growing demand for senior meals.
Waymo operates a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix, but its technology not only transports people from point A to point B, but also goods and supplies.
AZCEND, which has served thousands of individuals and households in the East Valley for more than 55 years, saw the demand for home-delivered meals for homebound seniors increase by 110% during the pandemic.
For AZCEND, the increased demand was accompanied by a corresponding need – arising from pandemic safety requirements – to adapt the delivery method for programming to include homeless services; rent and utility assistance; senior nutrition; meals on wheels; parenting, health and literacy classes; and other comprehensive services.
Out of this time of great need and great change, the partnership between AZCEND and Waymo emerged as a natural merger of one nonprofit organization’s goal and one technology company’s capabilities. Waymo has worked with other organizations in the local nonprofit community to learn how its technology could serve their communities through the transportation of people and the delivery of goods.
For more than a year, Waymo has donated its delivery services to transport more than 2,000 meals from AZCEND’s Chandler food bank to the Gilbert Senior Center.
“The partnership with Waymo has given us a larger capacity to serve people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Waymo has assisted in transporting food boxes to seniors in need,” said Trinity Donovan, CEO of AZCEND.
Once a week, a blue delivery van driven by Waymo’s autonomous technology arrives at AZCEND’s Chandler facility ready for staff to load up. This allows the staff to focus more time on programming and services.
“The need for our Meals on Wheels has increased exponentially during the pandemic and it’s partnerships with companies like Waymo that enable us to do what we do to support people in our community in need,” Donovan said.
