Good Samaritans who would like to help out with donations to victims affected recent shack fires that have ravaged Hout Bay’s informal settlements can easily do so through UberCOMMUNITY.
UberCOMMUNITY is the ride-sharing app’s social good arm, which allows riders to request a cab to come and pick items such as clothes and non-perishable goods to deliver to those in need during particular disasters, at no cost.
The Imizamo Yethu area in Hout Bay has been devastated by a fire which began on 11th March, reportedly taking three lives and destroying 950 shacks.
According to the Tula Tula foundation, around 3700 people have registered for aid and Uber is calling on the residents of Cape Town to pull together to assist those who’ve lost their homes and possessions.
Uber is working with the Cape Town Disaster Management Team and will be accepting donations on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th March between 10am and 3pm.
“Every donation, regardless of the size, will make a huge difference to those impacted by the fire. Riders are encouraged to label and pre-sort items where possible,” Uber said.
The list of suggested items are as follows:
To help the Imizamo Yethu Fire Victims:
- Baby, Kids and Adults clothes/ shoes
- Basic Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush)
- Sanitary pads and nappies (size: baby to toddler)
- Non perishable foods and bottled water
- Household items (kitchen, bedding etc)
- Stationery items (pens, paper, books)
- Large carry bags or boxes to pack the donated items
For Darg (Domestic Animal Rescue Group) based in Hout Bay:
- Dog food
- Cat food
- Blankets
- Food and water bowls
For the firefighters:
- Energy bars
- Chocolates
- Bottled Water
- Energade
- Soft drinks
How to donate
- Open the App on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th March, between 10am – 3pm
- Select the orange card along the bottom of your app saying “Hout Bay Fire Aid”
- Tap the card and request a vehicle through the “Hout Bay Fire Aid” view
- There is no destination needed, the car will come to you
- When the driver arrives – please meet him at your pick up point with your donations boxed and labelled
- There will be no charge for UberCOMMUNITY
Important To Note:
The vehicle view is open between 10:00am – 03:00pm; leaving the evening for Uber to get all donations to the Disaster Management Centr
Donations cannot be in cash, only items listed above will be accepted
All donations must be bagged or boxed in order for drivers to accept your donation. Please may we request you mark clearly what you are donating!
Please keep in mind that driver-partners can’t leave vehicles unattended, so we ask that you bring your items out to meet your driver when they arrive.
Successful redemption of this offer is subject to the availability of Uber driver-partners. Access to and use of the Uber App will be subject to the standard terms and conditions applicable to all riders who use the platform.
Riders will not be able to take any rides in any of the UberCOMMUNITY vehicles
Driver-Partners will be paid in full for their part in the collection
