A Central Texas nonprofit group that serves people with disabilities is offering Uber gift cards to help them get around.
On Sept. 1, 2017, HOP transportation stopped picking people up at their door who live outside of a 3/4 of a mile from a HOP bus stop. This left many disabled and elderly people who depended on HOP with no way to get around.
Many disabled and elderly people who lost their mode of transportation due to the change in HOP services, spoke out at Temple City Council meetings last year.
The city listened and reached out to the Heart of Central Texas Independent Living Center with a $10,000 grant proposal. The nonprofit accepted, and they are now offering Uber gift cards to those who qualify.
You must be a Temple resident who lives more than 3/4 of a mile away from a HOP bus stop and can prove you need transportation help due to age or disability.
"This fits our mission. This fits our purpose. Individuals who are not able to get to a doctor or go grocery shopping or go out and have dinner with their family, this is a way of them getting engaged," Peggy Cosner, the Executive Director of HOCTIL, said.
The Uber gift cards will continue to be offered to Temple residents until September or until the money runs out, whichever comes first.
Cosner also said they are looking for other means of transportation that are adaptive because not all Uber or Lyft drivers are able to provide transportation for people in wheelchairs. They are actively looking for volunteers to help fill that need.
For more information on HOCTIL or to reserve your spot in the program, call (254) 933-7487.
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