goPuff, A New Everyday Essentials Delivery Service Donates Goodies in APS Meal Bags for Families
By Rebecca Wallace
On Oct. 16, goPuff – the go-to platform for consumers’ everyday needs, partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to donate kid-friendly essential items for families picking up meals at King Middle School. APS began the weekly meal distribution in the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 forced school closures and students began digital distance learning from home.
Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola are co-founders and co-CEOs of goPuff. “Given how incredibly challenging this time has been for so many families, we want to provide support for the kids in our communities across the country,” said Ilishayev. Gola added, “We have the utmost respect and admiration for APS and every parent, caregiver, teacher and administrator that has weathered this storm to ensure Atlanta’s children remain safe while getting the best education possible.”
Thanks to goPuff, 1,000 students from the King Middle School community each received a tri-color spinning highlighter, toothbrush, toothpaste, and fruit snacks. Along with APS families and goPuff executives, APS officials were in attendance to help load bags in cars, including: Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring; Nutrition Director Dr. Marilyn Hughes; Atlanta School Board Chair Jason Esteves; Atlanta School Board Member Michelle Olympiadis; and King MS Principal Paul Brown.
“With Atlanta’s current pandemic guidelines, goPuff’s delivery model and offerings have helped to keep our families — and all Atlantans — safe,” said Atlanta School Board Chair Jason Esteves. “We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and the thoughtful gifts they have provided our students.”
Since APS moved to an all-virtual instructional model in March, the District has delivered approximately 120,000 meals per week to students. Thanks to a waiver announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in September APS began providing free meals to all children (ages 1-18) in all communities throughout the District. APS will continue to offer students weekly five-day meal kits (five breakfast meals and five lunch meals) by bus delivery and curbside pick-up at 14 school locations.
With four distribution centers in Southeast and Southwest Atlanta, goPuff is becoming the go-to solution for immediate everyday needs, fulfilling customer orders of cleaning and home products to over-the-counter medications to food and drinks, and in some markets, alcohol – in just minutes. With micro-fulfillment centers in every market it serves, the company delivers thousands of products quickly for a flat $1.95 delivery charge. goPuff is open 24/7 in many markets and late night everywhere else to bring customers what they need, when they need it most. Founded in 2013, goPuff is headquartered in Philadelphia and currently operates more than 200 micro-fulfillment centers servicing over 500 U.S. cities.
To learn more, visit www.gopuff.com or follow goPuff on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Download the goPuff app on iOS and Android.