Lyft Helps People Access Nutritious Food in US, Canada

Ridesharing firm Lyft is helping communities in the United States and Canada access healthy food easily and affordably. Through the Grocery Access Program, the San Francisco-based company provides a cheap transportation option for people living in some of North America’s food deserts—places with little access to affordable, nutritious food. For people in these areas, traveling to groceries may take at least half an hour and can be very expensive. So, they are forced to resort to junk food or fast food instead. Lyft’s social impact head said that one of the company’s main goals is to help communities, and making healthy food more accessible is only one way to do that. To alleviate the difficulty of access to nutritious food in food deserts, Lyft offers a lower fare to those who will register in its new program. Registered users can ride to partner grocery stores for only an average of $2.50. To encourage drivers to take these discounted rides, Lyft is covering up to $16 in excess of the $2.50 rate. To carry out the scheme, Lyft partnered with different organizations to determine who can qualify for the program. Eligibility differs for each community. In Washington D.C., Lyft is working with a charitable organization called Martha’s Table. In the program’s pilot run, Martha’s Table helped Lyft search for qualified individuals and families. In Baltimore, Maryland, interested individuals need to answer a survey through the Lyft app. They will qualify if they reside in select areas in the city and if they do not own a car. In Toronto, the program is open to Children’s Aid Society of Toronto clients.