Feeding San Diego, San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Red Cross, ElderHelp San Diego and Somali Family Service have partnered with Lyft to provide transportation for essential services to vulnerable members of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lyft will provide free ride credits to the above-mentioned organizations through LyftUp, the company’s effort to expand transportation to those who need it the most. Through the partnerships, Lyft drivers will be able to distribute essential goods during the pandemic. The transportation network is also offering members of San Diego’s essential services workforce free scooter rides through its LyftUp Scooter Critical Workforce Program, according to a news release.
Through the partnership with ElderHelp San Diego, seniors can access rides to get groceries and other essential services; the collaboration with Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank will provide access to rides to and from food banks; staff and community members will get access to rides through the initiative with San Diego Red Cross; and together Lyft and Somali Family Service will aid immigrants and refugees in San Diego County get to grocery stores, essential services and jobs. As per the release, the non-profits will be responsible for distributing the ride codes to the users, which can be used with the Lyft app.
“During this unprecedented time, completing critical short trips, while continuing to practice social distancing, is extremely important for those on the frontlines working so hard every day to keep us all safe,” said Kevin L. Faulconer, mayor of San Diego.
To help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, Lyft has been and will continue to disinfect high contact surfaces on scooters each time they are recharged, states the press release, as well as high contact surfaces on vans used to transport scooters. Interested employers should email HeroScooter@lyft.com for enrollment information.
Travel & Hospitality reporter Mariel Concepcion can be reached at mconcepcion@sdbj.com or 858-634-4625.
