European migrant crisis: Uber and Save the Children partner for #UberGiving donations on-demand to help refugees
Uber has partnered with charity Save the Children to allow people to provide donations on-demand, with the aim of helping refugees fleeing Syria and other displaced people.
The startup, better known for providing rides through its app, is now using its ubiquity across European cities to help people make donations to charities across the continent.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 9 September), between noon and 8pm, anyone using the Uber app in the UK will be able to request a pick up for items they wish to donate to Save the Children, which can then be sold in the charity's shops to raise money for its Child Refugee Crisis Appeal. Through the app's "Giving" option, people can arrange a pick up of their unwanted clothes, books and toys.
The donation drive is also taking place across 20 European cities, where the company is working with other local charities.
"We’re all used to getting a ride at the push of a button. Now, we want to use Uber to help refugees in desperate need. As always, none of this would be possible without our amazing partner-drivers," said Uber in a blog post.
Uber's money raising efforts follow the growing migration crisis across Europe, in which nearly four million Syrians have been forced to flee their country.