Uber to offer free rides to Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers in underserved Boston neighborhoods
Those looking to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters could get a free ride to meet with their mentees courtesy of an Uber initiative.
The offer comes as a six-month pilot program in partnership with the ride-hailing app, according to a press release. Fifty members of the organization’s Massachusetts Bay chapter will be eligible to use UberPOOL for free to meet with little brothers and sisters in Boston neighborhoods where kids see the longest wait lists to join the program, including Roslindale, Mattapan, Dorchester, Hyde Park, and Roxbury.
“We pride ourselves in constantly evaluating how we can better serve the community, and with many youth waiting to be matched in areas limited by public transportation, the Uber relationship is powerful,” Wendy Foster, president and CEO of the organization’s Massachusetts Bay chapter.
Because these neighborhoods are difficult to access using public transportation, youth living in these areas have historically outnumbered mentors seeking to serve there, according to the release. The pilot program aims to change that, providing additional mentors to serve the neighborhoods in need.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay has been transforming and inspiring communities for decades and we are excited to work with them to help open doors and connect mentors to youth in Boston’s underserved neighborhoods,” Chris Taylor, the general manager of Uber Boston, said in the release. “As a global leader in transportation, this collaboration represents our important commitment to not only giving back, but innovating within a community we call home.”
The volunteers will be selected based on their location, access to transportation, and interest in being matched with those on the wait lists, the release said. Those selected will have the option to travel by UberPOOL on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and their assigned “littles” will be able to accompany them during these times as well.
“This pilot program will make it possible for Bigs without a car to get to the kids and communities who need us the most,” Foster said. “This partnership could really be a game changer.”
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