Patterson secures “retired” Metro vans for South King County non-profits

September 10, 2010

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The Metropolitan King County Council approved at its September 7 meeting the donation of retired Metro Vanpool vans to provide transportation assistance to non-profit organizations across King County. Councilmember Julia Patterson secured vans for three organizations in South King County: the Lucy Lopez Community Center, The Corridor and the Renton Salvation Army Corps Community Center.

“For their many contributions to our community, we owe these outstanding non-profit organizations our support,” said Councilmember Patterson. “The Council’s van donation program helps bridge the transportation gap between these organizations and the more vulnerable populations they serve, providing access to medical appointments, educational field trips, job training and more.”

Kent’s Lucy Lopez Community Center has become a human-services portal for the city’s growing Latino population since opening its doors in 2007. Residents come to the center to benefit from computer courses, English lessons and help with citizenship tests. Music, art and after-school family programs, including a radio recording studio for local high school students are also featured.

In SeaTac, The Corridor’s mission is to rescue and empower young people and their families through the arts. As one of the few community hubs in the city, The Corridor conducts outreach programs that are created to give a respite to the people of the community from poverty, instability and high crime.

The Renton Salvation Army works to serve those most in need in the city of Renton. Their community center has a wide array of programs including a large and busy food bank, rental and utility assistance for seniors and low-income families, and after school youth programs.

Since 1995, the King County Council has donated vans to nonprofit groups to help meet the transportation needs of low-income, elderly, youth, or people with disabilities in King County. The vans are part of a fleet of county vehicles that have been ‘retired’ after accruing a certain number of miles. This is the eighth year that each member of the council has been able to donate vans.

The vans were donated through an annual application process. For more information about applying for a van, contact Councilmember Patterson’s Office at (206) 296-1005.