Uber is Delivering Free Meals to First Responders and Healthcare Workers

Uber announced that it is supporting the restaurant industry by waiving delivery fees. They are also committing to giving free meals to healthcare workers as the coronavirus grips the nation.

The company is dedicating its service toward independent restaurants on Uber Eats to help make up for the significant slowdown of in-restaurant dining caused by states limiting the number of customers they can serve due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uber feels that this is the best way to offer support for the independent restaurants in the U.S. and Canada that are being significantly affected.

“As more customers are choosing to stay indoors, we’ve waived the Delivery Fee for the more than 100,000 independent restaurants across US & Canada on Uber Eats, the company says in a written statement. We will also launch daily dedicated, targeted marketing campaigns—both in-app and via email—to promote delivery from local restaurants, especially those that are new to the app.”

And in the spirit of helping those on the front lines, Uber has also decided to make a commitment to the people who still have to perform their duties in order to keep us safe and to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“We’re also committing 300,000 free meals on Uber Eats to first responders and healthcare workers in the US and Canada, in coordination with local and state and provincial governments. We know that the work of medical and crisis response teams can be tireless, and the hours long; we hope we can help in a small way. Interested officials and organizations can reach us at social-impact-support@uber.com.”

In an interview on CNBC, Nelson Chai, the company’s chief financial officer said, “We’re going to deliver over 300,000 meals for health officials and first responders who are on the front line,” he said in a “Squawk Box” interview. “We’re doing what we can.”

“The coming weeks will be challenging for all of us. We are committed to working with our restaurant partners, government agencies, first responders, and communities at large to keep people safe and fed,” said Janelle Sallenave, Head of Uber Eats, US & Canada.