United Way of Northwest Alabama has announced the launch of the Ride United Vaccine Access Program, which will benefit those in United Way’s service area, including people in Franklin County.

This program will provide access to free transportation, in partnership with Lyft and NACOLG, to vaccination sites for those with confirmed vaccination appointments. According to the United Way, transportation has proven to be a key issue for many individuals hoping to obtain vaccines.

“We have learned that there are individuals in our community who want to receive their vaccinations but have not been able to do so because of lack of transportation,” explained UWNWAL CEO Jennifer McNulty. “We are using funds from the Northwest Alabama COVID-19 Emergency Fund to help eliminate that transportation barrier.

“The fund received a generous donation from Orsted, on behalf of the Muscle Shoals Project, which has allowed us to move forward with this project in our area,” McNulty added, noting similar efforts have “proven successful in other areas of our country, including Huntsville.”

Transportation appointments can be scheduled by calling 211 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

United Way of Northwest Alabama’s 211 program is a free and confidential service leveraged by thousands of people in Northwest Alabama. Every day, clients contact 211 to access crisis and emergency counseling; disaster assistance; food, healthcare and insurance assistance; stable housing and utility payment assistance; employment services; veteran services; and childcare and family services.

The program launched April 26 and will provide transportation assistance for those in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale and Marion counties.

For more information about Ride United or to schedule transportation, call 211.