Submitted by Intercity Transit
Intercity Transit has selected seven organizations to receive retired vans through a competitive application and review process. The organizations will provide vital transportation services to their clients.
- Behavioral Health Services opened a drug and alcohol treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women in response to the opioid epidemic. They will provide transportation to their facility and to appointments in the community including methadone treatment, prenatal and pediatric appointments among others.
- Catholic Community Services (CCS) will use their van to support two programs, the Drexel House and Familiar Faces. The Drexel House provides support for housing to shelter Olympia’s most vulnerable homeless adults. Over 50 percent of those served are veterans. The Familiar Faces program, a partnership with the Olympia Police Department, provides peer navigators to work with 20 people in downtown Olympia who have the most contact with law enforcement.
- Community Youth Services works with low income and at-risk youth, ages 12-24, to overcome the impacts of abuse, abandonment and the stigma of poverty and homelessness. Community Youth Services operates Rosie’s Place which offers an engagement center, overnight shelter and street outreach program for homeless youth and young adults.
- Senior Services for South Sound will transport seniors to activities such as the Senior Nutrition Program, Services to at Risk Seniors (STARS) and Adult Day Care and Respite Programs.
- Family Education and Support Services offers intensive classes for families impacted by trauma. Their prevention based parent training supports women who have acknowledged using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.
- Kokua Services provides individuals with disabilities the support they need to lead full and meaningful lives. All of the services Kokua offers incorporate getting individuals into our community to help build a sense of self-value through engagement with other community members in inclusive activities.
- Nature Nurtures Farm will transport children who live at Family Support Center’s Pear Blossom Shelter to their farm so they can participate in their Farm Start outdoor preschool program.
Now in its 15th year, Intercity Transit’s Van Grant program has awarded 55 former vanpool vehicles to community organizations to provide transportation services to clients in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm and their urban growth areas. The vehicles are retired due to mileage and time in service, and would otherwise be sold as surplus.
Each year Intercity Transit grants retired vanpool vehicles to nonprofit or community organizations in our service area through a competitive review and award process. Applications are generally due in October and awards are announced in December. For questions about this program, please contact Carolyn Newsome at cnewsome@intercitytransit.com.
