Right out of the gate, 2020 was a tough year. Devastating bushfires swept the country, followed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which yielded swift lockdowns and closures. This year has taken an emotional, mental and economic toll, and impacted life across the globe. 

At the forefront, remained an invisible frontline, people selflessly dedicated to keeping us and our families safe, keeping us fed and helping us move around safely. Thanks to them, essential parts of our communities stayed connected, when the whole world ground to a halt.

As we reflect on the year, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes within our network – our  restaurant, driver, delivery and charity partners, with a campaign dedicated to them; ‘Cheers Local Legends’. 

Founded with the simple message of saying ‘thank you’, we’re sharing stories, compliments, rewards, and a donation of more than $1 million AUD across our partner network.

Firstly, we’re spotlighting some of our amazing charity partners who worked incredibly hard to maintain their vital services and innovate new ways to help the vulnerable, amid the immense pressures of the pandemic:

  • To Lifeline and its invaluable volunteers, who continued to provide crisis support services to those struggling with the mental impact of the pandemic. We’re thanking these invaluable volunteers by donating free rides, to enable them to travel safely to and from their shifts.
  • To Feed Appeal for continuing to adapt amid restriction challenges to support vulnerable Australians and the unprecedented demand for food relief this year. To show our gratitude, we’re providing a cash donation to help Feed Appeal provide more than 290,000 meals across local grassroots food relief programs as the country recovers and rebuilds.
  • To Make-A-Wish, for continuing to help fulfill the wishes of critically ill children and their families’ when the world ground to a halt. We’re sharing Uber Eats vouchers for families in the Make-A-Wish network to come together, share a meal and focus on their child’s upcoming wish.

Throughout the campaign, we’ll also be shining a light on the work of indigenous mentoring program ID Know Yourself, the national peak body for specialist women’s domestic violence services, WESNET and social impact restaurant Lentil as Anything. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with these organisations and others, as we support communities in moving what matters across 2021.

Like our Social Impact partners on the frontline, we’ve witnessed incredible feats from our restaurant partners who have pivoted their approach to reach customers in creative ways in an effort to keep their community fed and look after their staff. Through this campaign, we’re donating print and digital billboard space to some of our hardworking restaurant partners across the east coast of Australia this December. To name a few, Newy Fried Chicken in Newcastle NSW, Oishii on Wheels in Bendigo VIC and Pete and Paulz in Cairns QLD will all enjoy their name in lights during the peak holiday travel season.

We’ve been incredibly humbled to hear the impact our Driver Partners and Delivery Partners have also had on lifting community spirits throughout this tough year. From Graham, the Driver Partner whose primary mission was to put a smile on his riders’ faces during lockdown in Sydney, to Rodel Antonio, the Delivery Partner in Adelaide who delivered with a smile to thousands of hungry eaters across the year, there’s no question that our partners have played an essential role in moving what matters this year.

That’s why we’re saying ‘Cheers’ to these Local Legends with $470,000 Uber vouchers for those Driver and Delivery Partners that kept us connected in 2020. We’re also inviting riders and eaters to show their appreciation by giving compliments to partners in the app and sharing their stories on social media.

And last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to you, for riding and eating using the Uber apps in 2020, and continuing to show your support during this difficult year. We look forward to being part of your journeys and meal times in 2021 and beyond.