Pictured: NICE Bus and United Way of Long Island distribute Everyone Rides NICE Metrocards to 14 Community Partners and Social Service Agencies, including Choice for All, Circulo de la Hispanidad, Coalition for the Homeless, Hempstead Civic Association, Hempstead Works, Hispanic Brotherhood, Hispanic Counseling Center, Long Island Federally Qualified Health Center/LIFQHC, Nassau Community College, New York Institute of Technology, SUNY Old Westbury, The NEST at Nassau Community College, The Safe Center, and Youth Build Long Island.
United Way of Long Island’s continued partnership with NICE Bus offers transportation assistance to Nassau County, NY families and individuals struggling with financial hardship.
Since 2017, the Everyone Rides NICE program has provided 323,200 free, safe, and reliable transportation rides to work, school, job interviews, medical treatment, and other essential activities. An additional 5,200 roundtrip Metrocards for eligible riders were distributed to a group of 14 Nassau community partners and social service agencies, including:
- Choice for All (Roosevelt)
- Circulo de la Hispanidad (Long Beach)
- Coalition for the Homeless (Amityville, serving Nassau County)
- Hempstead Civic Association (Hempstead)
- Hempstead Works (Hempstead)
- Hispanic Brotherhood (Rockville Center)
- Hispanic Counseling Center (Hempstead)
- Long Island Federally Qualified Health Center/LIFQHC (Westbury & Roosevelt)
- Nassau Community College
- New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury)
- SUNY Old Westbury (Westbury)
- The NEST at Nassau Community College (Garden City)
- The Safe Center (Bethpage)
- Youth Build Long Island (Hempstead)
“Everyone Rides NICE was established to remove obstacles to mobility and provide vital access to public transportation for Nassau County’s families and individuals who are having financial difficulties. NICE is proud to participate with United Way and help provide essential transit for these recipients and enrich their daily lives,“ said Jack Khzouz, CEO of NICE Bus.
According to United Way’s latest ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report*, there are more than 285,179 hardworking Long Islanders struggling to make ends meet and faced with difficult financial decisions every day. Many can’t afford vehicles and the maintenance associated with them, and often find public transportation non-existent or less reliable and flexible with nontraditional work schedules.
“Transportation is one of the biggest barriers for ALICE families,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President & CEO of United Way of Long Island. “It is because of our dedicated community partners and network of agencies, including NICE Bus, that United Way can continue to provide vital access to Long Islanders in all corners of the region.”
Afrin, a student at Nassau Community College in Garden City, has benefited from the program. She commutes one-hour each day from Rockville Center and receives the Metrocards through The NEST at Nassau Community College, which provides critical support to all members of the campus community.
“Because of United Way and NICE Bus, I can easily travel to my classes,” said Afrin. “I am also able to save money for books and school supplies.”
*To access United Way’s ALICE Report, visit: www.unitedwayli.org/ALICE2023.
About United Way of Long Island
United Way of Long Island advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on three key building blocks: health, education, and financial stability. United Way invests in community partnerships to help our most vulnerable and at-risk residents through organizations and programs that grant equitable access to resources and services across the region. For more information about United Way of Long Island, please visit www.unitedwayli.org, call 2.1.1 or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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