WORCESTER – The City of Worcester and ride-sharing company Lyft have partnered to provide transportation access to low-income families.
Mayor Joe Petty and Worcester Together announced that its partnership with Lyft will provide access to transportation for low-income families through the YOU, Inc. Worcester Family Resource Center, an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, through March 2021.
“This pandemic has exposed many issues in our society as institutional and government support systems augmented to address social distancing and the pandemic as a whole. We’ve seen this in our areas as disparate as our internet connectivity, our schools, our food systems, and in our transportation system,” said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “This partnership between Lyft and the Worcester Together organization was vital to ensuring that people were able to safely make vital trips to the grocery store, their doctor’s appointments, and the hospital. I want to thank everyone who made this partnership possible.”
The partnership is part of LyftUp, Lyft’s comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. Since June 2020, LyftUp has provided free rides to hundreds of Worcester families.
“Many families in our community are facing new and increased challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including food insecurity and lack of access to safe transportation” said Emily Swalec, LCSW, Program Director of the YOU, Inc. Worcester Family Resource Center. “We are grateful to partner with Lyft to expand resources for community members to complete essential travel and, by extension, to support local businesses by ensuring customers are able to reach them. We are excited that
The YOU, Inc. Worcester Family Resource Center will have access to ride credits to help low-income families access groceries and food banks.
Families in need of these codes should call the Family Resource Center at 508-796-1411 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Lead photo credit: stockcatalog on Visual Hunt / CC BY
