The city of Mount Vernon and DoorDash are joining forces to address food insecurity.

At a press conference, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard announced that DoorDash donated $35,000 to help reduce hunger in the city.

"As part of their company's commitment and support of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health by providing gift cards," Patterson-Howard said.

United Way of Westchester and Putnam helped the city distribute these gift cards at The Doles Center.

The president of United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Tom Gabriel, said food security is a growing issue for the community.

"More than 60% of all Mount Vernon residents are living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck. These are hardworking families or seniors trying to make ends meet," Gabriel said.

Many people who got a gift card, like Maureen Humphreys, said they'll use the extra money to help buy food for Thanksgiving.

"I got a family and sometimes you go to the store and things are so expensive and you don't have it. You know it's really tough," Humphreys said.

Now officials from the city said they're splitting the $35,000 donation into two gift card distribution drives.

They said they are aiming to set up the second drive sometime in the new year.