Retired Metro vans donated to KC Council District 1 organizations

Four retiring Metro Vans awarded to District 1
Photo courtesy King County

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski arranged for retired Metro Transit Vanpool vans to be given to organizations serving his Council District 1 to provide transportation assistance for low-income, elderly or young people, or people with disabilities.

The programs that received vans are:

• Rite of Passage - provider of programs and opportunities for troubled and at-risk youth from social services, welfare agencies and juvenile courts. The vehicle will be used to transport participants of the open-enrollment wilderness programs for youth, to drive them from Seattle to various locations on the Olympic Peninsula and back. 
• Turning Point - Located in Shoreline, they focus on the needs of youth. Current programs include Food4Kids weekend backpack program, afterschool tutoring, summer day camp and summer lunches, the Twin Ponds community garden, and participation in the Back to School project.
• International Drop-In Center - IDIC is a 42-year non-profit human and social services organization that operates a senior center. Its mission is to provide safe and healthy advocacy, assistance programs and a caring venue for the elderly, first-generation immigrants and families in need. They will transport elderly people to community functions, social and cultural events, visits to adult homes, recreation centers, visits to food banks, and seasonal wellness and fitness programs. 
• Therapeutic Health Services -  Six service locations, including one in Shoreline. Their mission is to rehabilitate individuals and heal families affected by alcohol dependence, drug dependence, and/or mental illness.

The vanpool program provides mobility for a diverse array of King County residents, supports the positive work of various local organizations, and relieves traffic congestion by reducing the need for single-occupancy vehicles. Interested organizations in Council District 1 can contact Rod Dembowski for more information on applying for a vehicle.