WCP | Lyft and Martha's Table Partner to Get Ward 7 and 8 Residents to Grocery Stores
Yes!!!!!! The Advoc8te just love this! While this new Lyft and Martha’s Table initiative is a pilot program, I know it will have a huge impact on connecting east of the river families to grocery stores. I tip my hat to the out of the box thinking on this one, you only see this with the organizations that are really thinking about the challenges facing east of the river families. This is also a really good look for Lyft. Thumbs up to both groups. What do you think? See below for a link to the full Washington City Paper article.
Also, be sure to thank our friends at Lyft and Martha’s Table for making this happen! Hit them up on their social media feeds and show them the love! While we could still use more full-service grocery stores east of the river, this is a great step (or ride) to connect families to healthy food options.
Illustration by Stephanie Rudig for the Washington City Paper
“Ride-sharing company Lyft is teaming up with Martha’s Table to help residents living in D.C.’s biggest food deserts access groceries. The six-month pilot program kicking off in January will allow select Ward 7 and 8 families to pay a $2.50 flat fee for shared rides to and from the three full-service grocery stores east of the river, plus the lobby market at Martha’s Table located at 2375 Elvans Road SE. There are two Safeways (322 40th St. NE and 2845 Alabama Ave. SE) and one Giant (1535 Alabama Ave. SE).
Lyft and Martha’s Table will identify 500 families to participate in the initial “Lyft Grocery Access” program. Each family must have a child enrolled at one of seven elementary schools in order to qualify: Anne Beers Elementary School, Garfield Elementary School, Moten Elementary School, Rocketship Rise Academy, Savoy Elementary School, Stanton Elementary School, and Turner Elementary School. Families with children participating in educational programs through Martha’s Table are also eligible.
Martha’s Table is a nonprofit that’s been working to increase access to healthy food in the District since 1980. “We believe that access to healthy food is a basic human right and everyone regardless of zip code deserves it,” says Caron Gremont, the organization’s senior director of health and wellness initiatives. “East of the river, they don’t have the same opportunities as the rest of residents do in D.C. It’s just wrong.” She calls the Lyft partnership an innovative way for the private sector to be part of the solution.
Together with Capital Area Food Bank, Martha’s Table has been operating Joyful Food Markets at Ward 7 and Ward 8 elementary schools since 2015. Families can visit once a month and shop for up to 15 pounds of food—mostly fruits and vegetables. The success of the Joyful Food Markets is what prompted Lyft to tether its program to seven of the 53 participating schools.”