Making Every Ride Count

How Uber is helping Open Doors to Future Possibilities provide transportation for Veterans

For many Veterans, the hardest part of getting help isn't asking for it—it's getting there.

A counseling appointment, job interview, medical visit, or community event can all be life-changing opportunities. But without reliable transportation, those opportunities often remain just out of reach. At Open Doors to Future Possibilities (ODTFP), we've seen firsthand how something as simple as a ride can determine whether a Veteran receives the support they need or remains isolated.

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from Uber, ODTFP is helping remove that barrier. The grant provides transportation, and when appropriate, grocery deliveries for Veterans in need, making it easier for them to access counseling, healthcare, employment services, and the community programs that support their well-being. It’s a simple investment with the power to create lasting impact — one ride at a time.

Removing Barriers to Care

The grant provides ODTFP with an expense account that can be used for Uber rides and, when appropriate, Uber Eats grocery deliveries for Veterans in need. The program, which began in June 2026, is expected to benefit approximately 50 to 75 Veterans by helping them travel to counseling appointments, workshops, community events, employment services, and medical appointments.

The partnership began after members of the Uber team visited our San Francisco office and met with Veterans we serve. Hearing their stories firsthand helped illustrate a reality many people don't see: even when services are available, they aren't always accessible.

Reliable transportation is often the first step toward receiving help.

Transportation Creates Opportunity

At ODTFP, we know transportation is about much more than getting from one place to another. A ride to a counseling session can strengthen mental fitness and emotional well-being. A ride to an employment appointment can open the door to a new career. A ride to a community event can help someone reconnect after months—or even years—of isolation.

When transportation becomes a financial burden, Veterans are more likely to miss appointments, delay medical care, struggle to access food, and lose opportunities to build meaningful connections. Those challenges can compound over time, making it even more difficult to move forward.

By removing that barrier, we're helping Veterans stay engaged with the services designed to support their long-term success.

Matthew's Story

One Veteran who immediately comes to mind is Matthew, a disabled Army Veteran who has long wanted to participate in Open Doors community events.

For years, Matthew heard about our Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas celebrations, Easter gatherings, and other programs, but without reliable transportation, attending simply wasn't possible. His disability benefits covered the essentials, but owning and maintaining a vehicle wasn't financially realistic.

Whenever we could, we brought meals to his home so he would still feel connected to our community. Yet each time, he shared the same wish: he wanted to be there with everyone else.

Thanks to this grant, we're excited to finally make that possible.

Matthew's story is one of many reminders that meaningful support isn't always about creating new programs. Sometimes it's about removing the one obstacle standing between someone and the help that's already waiting for them.

Advancing Our Mission Together

One of Open Doors' guiding principles is making care accessible to every Veteran who needs it. Whether through counseling, employment support, digital literacy training, community events, or wellness programs, our mission is to remove barriers so Veterans can access the resources that help them build happier, more connected lives.

We’re grateful to Uber for recognizing that transportation is more than getting from one place to another — it’s often the first step toward healing, stability, and opportunity. This grant allows more Veterans to attend appointments, connect with their community, and receive the support they deserve with dignity.

Partnerships like this demonstrate how businesses can make a meaningful difference by investing in practical solutions that create lasting impact. Together, we’re ensuring that something as simple as a ride can open doors to a brighter future for the Veterans we serve.

Help Us Open More Doors

Every partnership, volunteer, and donor helps ODTFP remove barriers for Veterans and their families.

If you know a Veteran who could benefit from our programs, we encourage you to connect them with us. If you're interested in supporting our mission, consider partnering with us, volunteering your time, or making a financial contribution.

Together, we can ensure that something as simple as a ride becomes the first step toward a stronger, healthier future.

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Photos from our Uber Presentation at the War Memorial Veterans Building summer 2026.