Seven Hills partners with Lyft to provide free COVID vaccination rides

PHOTO/Matt Wright First responders receive the COVID vaccine at the Worcester Senior Center in January.

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By Devan Greevy

The Worcester nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation has partnered with the rideshare company Lyft and the City of Worcester to provide Worcester residents free and discounted rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites.

As a part of Lyft’s Universal Vaccine Access campaign rolling out throughout the country, low-income families receive ride credits through the Worcester Family Resource Center at YOU, Inc. The center, an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, provides workshops, programs, and referral services for the local community.

“Access to reliable transportation represents a major barrier to care for millions of Americans across the country, especially for vulnerable communities,” said Brendan Joyce, the community engagement manager for Lyft in Massachusetts, in a press release. “The strength of all of our partners, including Seven Hills Foundation, combined with our ability to address transportation barriers enables us to support equitable vaccine access for those who need it most.”

In addition to this new partnership, Lyft and the Worcester Family Resource Center have collaborated since June to provide the LyftUp program, which provides area residents ride credits to go to grocery stores. The two programs have facilitated transportation for more than 1,150 local families to get food or COVID-19 vaccinations.

Families needing transportation access to vaccination sites or grocery stores can call 508-796-1411 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Worcester Family Resource Center.