Lyft and Philadelphia Black Clergy to Make Transportation Available to Seniors for Essential Medical Services During COVID-19

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Philadelphia seniors will receive ride credits to doctor’s offices and medical appointments for treatments that have been delayed during the COVID-19 crisis

Philadelphia seniors will receive ride credits to doctor’s offices and medical appointments for treatments that have been delayed during the COVID-19 crisis.

The two major organizations representing Black Churches in Philadelphia, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity and the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc., today announced that in partnership with Lyft, Lyft will provide access to transportation for seniors in the community who wish to travel safely for medical appointments.  

The partnership is part of LyftUp, Lyft’s comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most.  In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Lyft has activated more than 500 LyftUp partners – including public health entities, local governments, nonprofits and community organizations – to provide free rides and free delivery of essential goods for vulnerable communities and critical workers. 

Using the code, ClergyCares2, in the Lyft app, seniors will have access to ride credit for rides to and from designated medical locations for doctor’s appointments and testing that may have been delayed during the pandemic shutdown. Ride credits will be available in the Philadelphia region until October 15th.  

Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, President of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc. and Overseer of Heavenly Hall Church in West Philadelphia, emphasized the need for this program, stating “COVID-19 has created a huge need for our senior citizens to get to their most important, and in some cases, critical doctor’s appointments. For many seniors and persons with health challenges, their appointments were missed due to limited transportation. This initiative will help them get to and from their rescheduled appointments in a safe manner.”

“This is a Spiritual Health Initiative,” said Rev. Robert Collier, President of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity and pastor of the Galilee Baptist Church in Roxborough. “This is about meeting our parishioners’ health needs as well as the

their spiritual needs.  We appreciate that Lyft has stepped in to fill the gap to safely get our members back to their doctors.”   

“We want to increase access to transportation for those who need it, particularly to meet their essential needs during this time. By activating LyftUp, we’re able to partner with Philadelphia Clergy to fill mobility needed by many African American seniors to access health care,” said Andrew Woolf, Regional Director for Lyft Philadelphia. “We’re also grateful to all those who drive with Lyft for helping provide rides for those in need. Lyft will be supporting drivers by creating new opportunities to help them earn additional income through the Lyft app and continuously working to protect their safety.”

To make sure riders and drivers know the best ways to protect themselves and those around them, Lyft is providing continuous HYPERLINK “https://www.lyft.com/safety/coronavirus/” \l “driver” updates. To learn more about how else Lyft is supporting its community during this time, visit its blog www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community

ABOUT LYFT

Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation and is available to 95 percent of the United States population as well as select cities in Canada. Lyft is committed to effecting positive change for our cities and making cities more livable for everyone through initiatives that bridge transportation gaps, and by promoting transportation equity through shared rides, bikeshare systems, electric scooters, and public transit partnerships.

ABOUT THE BLACK CLERGY OF PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY
The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity was founded 38 years ago and represents 75 pastors. Over the years, the organization has tackled a myriad of issues plaguing the African American community, from reaching more youth and getting them connected to church and worship; HIV/AIDS; homelessness; affordable housing and gentrification; education reform; racial profiling; the criminal justice system and more. 

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL OF CLERGY, INC. 
The Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1994. It is a diverse ecumenical group of multicultural faith-based leaders who desire to alleviate suffering, overcome oppression, foster justice and peace in Philadelphia, and in communities both nationally and internationally. As religious leaders, the network promotes a unified relationship with government officials and the social and economic advancement of its pastors and their members.

For more information contact Thera Marin at 267.402.6313 or [email protected]

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