By Anne | Dasher from Spokane
I’ve been an app-based worker in Spokane for about five years now. I also have a full-time job as a data entry processor. And, perhaps most importantly, I’m a grandma!
When people ask me why I deliver with DoorDash, I don’t even have to think about my response.
It all comes down to one word: independence.
I started dashing off and on before 2020, and started utilizing this kind of work more during the pandemic. That’s when I realized app-based work could really become a reliable and flexible way to work successfully as an independent worker. It is exciting to be able to set my own schedule and work on my own terms, wherever, whenever.
Dashing on the side gives me an opportunity to earn supplemental income that keeps me financially stable. The money I earn as a Dasher gives me the freedom to treat myself to things I might not otherwise be able to afford – like a vacation! It also allows me to support my grandchildren and provide them with the things they need (or, the things Grandma wants them to have as a treat!). Dashing helps me put my family’s needs first, and that’s been a huge relief.
With app-based work, I have absolute freedom to create my own schedule around another job. I can clock in and out when I want, and if I’m tired, and don’t feel like working one day, it’s a relief knowing I can’t be fired for deciding to stay home and rest. That peace of mind means a lot to me, and has taken a lot of stress off my shoulders.
As a Dasher, I’ve also seen the value my work provides to my community. People have come to rely on app-based delivery services, and it was empowering to be able to help them during COVID-19. I delivered food, groceries and essential goods to all kinds of people – to families, to seniors, people from different cultures and all walks of life. This has given me a deeper appreciation for new cultures through food and my daily interactions with folks as a Dasher.
To be honest, I’m not sure how many of us would be doing this were it not for the independence and flexibility of app-based work. Being my own boss is empowering, and I have to say I’ve come to enjoy being in control of my own destiny each day.
I’m proud to be an independent worker, and I think platforms like DoorDash help others, like me, who are looking for a flexible way to meet their personal and financial goals.
Anne is a Spokane resident who has been a Dasher for five years.