Louisville nonprofit's new 'Doula Dash' ride-sharing program gets $10,000 grant from city

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Moms-to-be in Louisville in need of a ride now have a resource to get where they need to go.

Doula Dash is a new program being offered through Granny's Birth Initiative, a nonprofit that provides resources such as a maternity pantry, a milk bank and more.

Doula Dash is a ride-sharing program that aims to tackle transportation barriers, offering rides to prenatal appointments, lactation appointments, pelvic floor therapy and other pre- and post-natal needs.

Granny's Birth Initiative Louisville 2.jpg — Louisville nonprofit Granny's Birth Initiative provides resources to expecting families such as a maternity pantry and a milk bank. It's also now providing a ride-sharing program called "Doula Dash." (WDRB photo)

The founder of Granny's Birth Initiative said all drivers will be doulas.

"We want to help people understand, and really like debrief any information they've gotten during their prenatal," Alexa Hughes said. "So, why not debrief and get those questions answered with a doula while enjoying your ride?"

This week, the program got a $10,000 maternal and child health grant from the city, funded by District 8.

"We're super excited to be one of the first organizations to receive a maternal health grant from the city," said Hughes.

For now, rides cost $20, but the organization is searching for more grants and donations to make the service free.

Rides have to be booked one day in advance and rides are limited to three people at a time. Organizers said the program does not replace EMS transportation at the time of birth or delivery.

For more information and to book a ride, click here.

In addition to the new program, Granny's Birth Initiative has made other significant changes, namely its new home. Now located at 801 Barret Avenue, "Granny's Hub," which stands for holistic urban birth support, is a dedicated space for all of the nonprofit's services.

It includes rooms for lactation consultation, the maternity pantry, postpartum services and storage for item donations. Hughes hopes to expand their staff and program offerings in the future.

"I want to get people to have more emphasis on prioritizing maternal life," said Hughes. "People need to understand that there is a maternal and infant health crisis, but right now the maternal crisis is rising here in Kentucky."

For more information about Granny's Birth Initiative, click here.