Beep’s Move Nona self-driving shuttles were up and running again, but this time they weren’t picking up passengers.
They were delivering pizzas.
Lake Nona partners came together this week to donate lunch to health care workers on the front lines at the Orlando VA Medical Center. As part its on-going efforts to support first responders, local favorite Park Pizza & Brewing donated pizzas and teamed up with Beep, operator of the Lake Nona autonomous shuttle program, for a special delivery via self-driving shuttle to VA employees.
“There are hundreds of health care workers in our backyard in Lake Nona Medical City that are on the frontlines of this crisis each and every day,” said Jennifer Thompson with Park Pizza & Brewing. “We’re proud to actively support our health care workers in these challenging times, and this latest lunch delivery is a wonderful example of the generosity and collaboration that Lake Nona is known for.”
Typically, the shuttles operate daily on fixed routes throughout Lake Nona. With operation temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus, the shuttles are finding new and innovative ways to support the community.
“It’s an honor to provide for those who are on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Joe Moye, CEO of Beep. “Mobilizing our team and partnerships in any way we can to support our communities is necessary in this time of need.”
To limit contact with the delivery, each pizza box was sealed, put onto a cart, loaded into the shuttle by Park Pizza & Brewing restaurant employees and then secured by the on-board shuttle attendant. Utilizing the autonomous shuttle ensures safe delivery of the food without having to rely on other services and allows workers to remain on campus.
The lunch delivery is the just one of the many ways the Lake Nona community has banned together to support those on the frontlines of the pandemic. Recently, the Orlando Police Department organized a “light up the night drive by salute” through Lake Nona’s Laureate Park neighborhood and Medical City including Nemours Children’s Hospital and the VA. Resident-driven initiatives have also included “Chalk Your Walk” covering community sidewalks with colorful words of encouragement and impressions of the “Nona Lisa,” to mask making brigades delivering hundreds of homemade masks to first responders.
Beep and other Lake Nona partners are exploring additional opportunities to utilize the autonomous shuttles to serve the community and support front-line workers during COVID-19.
