United Way of the Brazos Valley’s health care transportation program, Ride2Health, began in August 2021 thanks to a State Farm Good Neighbor Grant. This rideshare program uses Lyft to assist patients needing transportation to non-emergency health care appointments, mental health services and pharmacies.

With the grant funds, United Way of the Brazos Valley launched the program with five local partner organizations, including the Prenatal Clinic, MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley, the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Health for All, and HealthPoint.

“So many neighbors struggle on a daily basis to get to doctor’s visits, the pharmacy or any number of errands that most of us take for granted,” said Liz Dickey, Executive Director of Health for All. “Transportation barriers lead to rescheduled or missed appointments, delayed care and missed or delayed medication use and can result in increased health expenditures and overall poorer health outcomes. Removing this one barrier to accessing basic healthcare will have a ripple effect that will truly change lives.”

“I am happy to be a part of the United Way and this community where we can identify a need and then continue to work toward a solution until we have moved the needle and done what needed to be done,” said Dickey. “It is often far too easy to say ‘the problem is too big’ or ‘I can’t change it.’ Instead, we have a prime example of people fighting for change and not accepting that they couldn’t do it. As a result, our neighbors will have a better shot at a happy and healthy life. That’s a huge deal and I could not be prouder to be a part of it.”

The program officially launched February 2022 with volunteer drivers and through additional grants and funding, United Way of the Brazos Valley has been able to expand the number of rides through the partnership with Lyft. Since inception, Ride2Health has provided over 1,200 rides for Brazos Valley residents to medical appointments. 

With additional partnerships throughout the other counties, United Way of the Brazos Valley seeks to expand this program to include community members who reside in Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties.