Lyft donates rides to help victims of domestic violence in Arizona

PHOENIX — Lack of transportation is often a reason victims of domestic violence don’t leave abusive situations.

To help ease that burden, ride-sharing service Lyft has donated $20,000 in credits to transport victims of domestic violence to and from shelters across Arizona.

The donation to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence was announced at last week’s Paint Phoenix Purple event as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The credits from Lyft, which also collaborated with the coalition in 2017, are good throughout the year.

“We really wanted to provide a transportation mechanism for victims to escape dangerous situations,” Drena Kusari, Lyft’s Southwest general manager, told KTAR News 92.3 FM last week.

Lyft also collected basic items requested by shelters – such as toiletries, hygiene products, diapers, socks and underwear – from employees and drivers to donate during the event.

In addition, Lyft is offering discounts to its customers as a way to raise money for the cause.

New riders who use the code ENDVIOLENCE can get $5 off four rides, and existing users can enter ENDVIOLENCE18 to get 20 percent off two rides in October. Lyft will donate $10 to the coalition each time those codes are used.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.

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