Instacart is launching Beyond the Cart: A Year of Essential Stories, a campaign designed to recognize the Instacart shopper community and the essential role it's played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of this effort, Instacart is celebrating shoppers everywhere by spotlighting the lives, backgrounds, and stories of 59 heroic Instacart shoppers—one from every U.S. state and Canadian province where Instacart is available.
In addition, as a thank you to these shoppers for their efforts, Instacart is surprising them with a year of free groceries. Instacart is also offering $200 in grocery credit to the most active shoppers who have supported the most households throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This past year, hundreds of thousands of shoppers played an essential role in communities across North America, helping millions of people safely and seamlessly get the groceries and goods they need delivered to their home," said Apoorva Mehta, founder and CEO of Instacart, in a statement. "From college students and retirees to busy moms and dads, Instacart shoppers make up a diverse and inspiring community of individuals who stepped up and served as household heroes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We're incredibly grateful for every shopper and are inspired by their stories and the extraordinary service they provide to customers every day. Today, we celebrate all Instacart shoppers and the important role they've played for so many people this past year."
Lifestyle expert and recently named co-host of The Talk, Amanda Kloots, who has experienced the tragic effects of the pandemic firsthand, has partnered with Instacart to raise awareness and appreciation for essential workers like members of the Instacart shopper community who have served as a lifeline to millions of people during the pandemic.
"I'm proud to join Instacart in paying tribute to the essential role the shopper community has played in people's lives, including mine, over the past year," said Kloots, in a statement. "As a single mom who hasn't set foot into a grocery store in over a year, Instacart has enabled me to stay safe for my son, and I'm so grateful for the peace of mind these shoppers have given me. I applaud the service they've provided to countless others, from senior citizens, to people with health risks, to families who want to limit exposure, and more. The Instacart shopper community has been a lifeline to millions of people, and this campaign is a moment to say thank you."
Related: Instacart Shares Efforts to Stand Against Systemic Racism; Instacart: Pandemic Shopping Habits Remain.
Image: Instacart