Formerly Homeless Woman Uses Rideshare Earnings to Make Sure Neighbors Have Rides for Food
A Raleigh, North Carolina, rideshare driver is spending her own money to help families put food on the table. Despite paying nearly $500 a week to rent a car, she continues offering free trips to local food pantries.
Paige Tate, 34, founded Pantry to Go after meeting a passenger who was struggling to find food. Since then, her small operation has helped families across North Carolina’s Triangle region.
With Thanksgiving approaching, Tate’s efforts show how a simple act of kindness can make a difference. For families without reliable transportation, even getting free groceries can be difficult.
Her mission has not been easy. Vehicle repairs and rising expenses have forced her to make sacrifices, but Tate remains determined to keep helping her neighbors.
One Ride Changed Everything
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Pantry to Go began in August 2025 after an emotional encounter during one of Tate’s Lyft trips. According to ABC11, a young, pregnant passenger broke down while explaining that she needed help finding food.
After dropping her off at work, Tate searched for a nearby food pantry. She then contacted the pantry to ask whether she could bring other people there.
What started with one passenger soon grew into a community service. Tate now helps three or four clients daily, sometimes reaching six with assistance from volunteers.
She does more than provide transportation. Tate often walks into the pantry alongside her clients, knowing some feel embarrassed or nervous about asking for help.
Kindness Has a Cost
Tate funds much of Pantry to Go through her rideshare earnings. Her income covers fuel, maintenance, website costs, and scheduling expenses.
When her car’s catalytic converter failed, she faced a repair estimate of roughly $2,400. Unable to afford it, Tate paused the program for about six weeks.
She eventually resumed operations using a rental vehicle through Lyft. That arrangement now costs her nearly $500 weekly.
Tate understands financial hardship firsthand. She told ABC11 that she experienced homelessness less than three years ago after leaving a difficult relationship. She later rebuilt her finances and found stable housing.
“I don’t have money, so I can’t go around donating money to people, but I have time,” Tate said.
Helping During The Holidays
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, many families are preparing holiday meals. Others are simply trying to afford enough groceries for the week.
Food pantries provide vital support, but reaching them can be challenging. Parents with young children may struggle to carry heavy bags on buses, while others have no transportation at all.
Tate’s program helps bridge that gap. Volunteers can provide rides or deliver groceries, giving neighbors a practical way to support families during the holidays and beyond.
Her efforts also come ahead of the ABC11 Together Food Drive, beginning November 18, which benefits the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Keeping The Wheels Turning
Tate hopes donations will help her move away from costly car rentals and expand the number of days she can offer rides.
Families needing transportation and people interested in volunteering can visit Pantry to Go for more information.
“If we can just work together as a community, then no one has to go without,” Tate told ABC11.
