Retired Intercity Transit vans will get new mileage with charities

Intercity Transit has given away six used 12-passenger vans to community organizations that will use the vans to carry their clients.

Now in its 13th year, Intercity Transit’s Van Grant program has awarded 47 retired vanpool vehicles to community organizations through a competitive application process. The former Vanpool vehicles are being retired because of high mileage and time in use, and would otherwise be sold as surplus.

Government agencies or private nonprofit organizations serving clients in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, or their urban growth areas qualify for the program. Applicants must identify how a van will benefit their clients and the community, as well as demonstrate that existing transit service does not meet their transportation needs.

The nonprofit groups receiving vans are:

▪ Community Youth Services, which will transport at-risk school-age children to after-school programs.

▪ Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County, which will use the van to transport kids to before- and after-school programs and field trips.

▪ Senior Services of South Sound, which will drive seniors to the Senior Nutrition Program, services for at-risk seniors, and adult day care and respite programs.

▪ Community Action Council, which will provide transportation from the Lacey Transit Center to their new location on Willamette Drive in Lacey.

▪ City Gates Ministries, which will provide transportation to low-income families trying to get back in the work force. The van will be used to take people to work while family vehicles are repaired by a volunteer mechanic.

▪ Center for Natural Lands Management, which will use the van to transport partners and volunteers to conservation projects on South Sound prairies.

The Intercity Transit Authority will host a brief reception and present the vans at its meeting on Wednesday.

This story was originally published December 29, 2016 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Retired Intercity Transit vans will get new mileage with charities."