Patterson delivers “retired” van to Somali Youth & Family Club

January 12, 2010

Summary

Human service program receives vehicle to meet transportation needs of clients

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson’s delivery of a retired Metro eight-passenger van to the Somali Youth & Family Club was also a delivery of hope for a program that provides vital services to their clients.

Patterson was greeted on January 11 by a crowd of grateful youth, volunteers and club members who were eager to take a look inside the shiny, blue, van and welcome her into their community.

“This was one of the greatest van donation experiences I have ever had in my eight years on the Council,” said Councilmember Patterson. “It was incredibly heartwarming to be welcomed with such enthusiasm and graciousness by the Somali Youth & Family Club, and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to provide their community with this unprecedented opportunity for mobility.”

Somali Youth & Family Club is non-profit organization founded in 2005. Located at the Creston Point Apartments in the West Hill unincorporated community outside of Renton, the organization was created to meet the growing needs of Somali immigrant populations living in South King County. The club’s main focus is to strengthen academic achievement among Somali children and to connect families to various community resources, such as on-site ESL instruction and employment services. The club currently serves roughly 600 refugee families a year, the majority of which live in the Creston Point Apartment complex.

“With this van donation we will work towards teaching our children to care and enjoy the beautiful nature of our State,” said Aden Hussien, President of the Somali Youth & Family Club. “This kind of support is invaluable to our organization, especially since we do not have a direct source of revenue, but rely solely on volunteer and community assistance.”

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.




Councilmember Patterson with clients from the Somali Youth & Family Club after the delivery of a retired Metro Vanpool Van