Lyft drivers help feed Sacramento seniors at risk from Covid-19

Lyft driver Bernice Taylor has been bringing meals to seniors for Sacramento’s Great Plates Delivered program

Bernice Taylor saw her passengers disappear when the state imposed its stay-at-home order in March, but the Lyft driver has nonetheless earned steady income over the past two months driving restaurant meals to seniors enrolled in Sacramento’s Great Plates Delivered program.

Lyft and its driver community have played a key role in the success of Sacramento’s version of Great Plates Delivered, which currently delivers free boxes containing breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week from 44 restaurants throughout the city to 1,100 seniors.

The program launched on May 14 and passed the 100,000-meals delivered milestone on June 23.

“With this program, you’re delivering a ‘happy box’ to the seniors; they’re so happy to see you,” Taylor said.

Every day, 10 to 12 Lyft drivers join a fleet of 16 Paratransit and United Cerebral Palsy vans in facilitating the delivery of the meals. Private volunteer drivers help fill in the gaps.

The meals have been delivered in part by the LyftUp Community Driver Task Force — Lyft’s community of over 120,000 drivers from across the country who have signed up to support community-oriented trips. All deliveries are contactless, and drivers are paid for these rides.

LyftUp is the company’s comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. More than 500 LyftUp partners, which include non-profits, school systems, unions, government agencies and corporations, were activated in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

More than 40 percent of LyftUp partners have provided access to ride credits to support communities with food insecurity.  A partnership with Mastercard directly enables LyftUp initiatives focused on providing access to essential rides and pilot delivery services to those in need most during this time. 

“Through LyftUp, we’ve partnered with Sacramento’s Great Plates Delivered program and Mastercard to support homebound seniors who otherwise wouldn't have access to healthy meals,” said Traci Lee, Senior Public Policy Manager at Lyft. “We’re grateful to our driver community for facilitating meal delivery and supporting those in need during this time.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is footing 75 percent of the cost of the program, which is currently scheduled to conclude July 10. The state of California is paying 18.75 percent, and the city is providing a required 6.25 percent local match.

Fifty percent of the restaurants participating in the program are minority owned, and 34 percent are owned by women. The program has also helped support local farmers who supply produce for the meals. Restaurants receive $60 a day for each box containing breakfast, lunch and dinner for a senior.

Cortney Nichols, who drives for Lyft and Postmates, said she loves delivering meals to seniors and appreciates the additional income she earns through Great Plates Delivered.

“I love seeing everyone,” she said. “They’re so happy to see me.”