Uber will provide rides for veterans to job interviews, jobs, and other things related to working.
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If you find yourself getting in an Uber or Lyft this Veterans Day, take the time to consider the men and women who have fought for your freedom.
Uber and Lyft announced Tuesday that they are stepping up this Veteran’s Day to offer free rides to former members of the United States armed services.
In addition, Uber will offer customers a chance to donate $5 (€ ) which it will use to offer additional free journeys for veterans. More than 40,000 veterans have joined the driver platform since the launch of the initiative, according to Uber.
The move is part of a broader effort by the White House’s Joining Forces initiative to help end homelessness among veterans, and encourage corporate partners to fill the unmet needs of America’s military families. Once selected, the standard vehicle icons will be swapped with little auto icons decorated with the American flag. Anyone who donates, will receive a receipt.
It was not clear how many rides Lyft is offering or if its portion will cover the rest, but a White House blog mentions both Uber and Lyft “are donating tens of thousands of free rides” and a Lyft spokesperson mentioned Lyft is “donating thousands of rides”, when we reached out for a more exact number.
Company officials said the rides will be made available in coming months, through veterans organizations working with the Labor Department’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.
According to the US Department of Housing and Development, almost 50,000 veterans are without a place to sleep on any given night. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that more than two-thirds of those veterans live without access to reliable transportation, limiting their ability to gain and hold jobs.
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The first lady will share a “special message” during NBC’s “The Voice” playoffs Wednesday on behalf of Veterans and Joining Forces.
