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Seniors are the fastest growing segment of Alaska’s population.
The Salvation Army Alaska Division has been selected as a grant recipient of the 2018 Uber Pacific Northwest Community Impact Initiative. The $5,000 in-kind Uber ride credits will enable The Salvation Army to restart its ride program for homebound seniors in the Older Alaskans Program, which was previously discontinued due to funding restraints.
Seniors are the fastest growing segment of Alaska’s population, and more and more of them are remaining in their own homes instead of moving to a senior care facility. The Older Alaskans Program works to support the growing needs of seniors who do not have access to transportation.
“Through the partnership between The Salvation Army and Uber, the Older Alaskans Program can now use the ride credits to transport participants in need to their medical appointments,” said Robert DeBerry, Communications Manager for The Salvation Army Alaska Division. “The loss of the ride program left a significant gap in our services, so we’re grateful to get it partially back up and running again for those most in need.”
Uber started operating in Alaska last year after Gov. Bill Walker signed House Bill 132, to allow “transportation network companies” to provide services in the Last Frontier. Alaska was one of the last states without ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft.
“In the communities where we do business, we use our technology and resources to support organizations that are making meaningful, positive impact,” said Brooke Steger, General Manager for Uber in the Pacific Northwest. “The Salvation Army Alaska Division is certainly one of those organizations, so we’re proud to support their work.”
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