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Dunn delivers retired Metro van to Enumclaw Senior Center, thanks staff and seniors for all they do
Summary
“It’s a relief for them, and it’s a way we can help the community overall”
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| Surrounded by clients and staff of the Enumclaw Senior Center, Councilmember Dunn, joined by Washington State Representative Morgan Irwin (4th from the left), hands the keys to a surplus Metro Transit Vanpool van to Senior Center Manager Jobyna Nickum. |
Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn presented a surplus Metro Transit Vanpool to the Enumclaw Senior Center to assist the facility in meeting a variety of transportation needs.
“People don’t realize how much our local senior centers really do,” said Dunn said after presenting the keys to the van to Jobyna Nickum, the Manager of the Senior Center. “Considering all the support they provide in helping older adults stay active and independent, the Enumclaw Senior Center and its counterparts in the area are undervalued. They make an important difference, but so much of what they do is behind-the-scenes.”
The senior center has big plans for its new van. The vehicle is slated to help transport Enumclaw seniors to the center for its lunch program, as well as day trips in the area that enrich older adults’ lives. The van will also transport seniors to important appointments.
“Many Enumclaw seniors need some extra help getting around, so they can take care of the things we all need to do,” said Senior Center Manager Jobyna Nickum. The van will help connect area residents to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, banking, and the like. “It’s a relief for them, and it’s a way we can help the community overall.”
The van was previously part of Metro Transit’s vanpool program for commuters. When the vans reach the end of their service life after at least six years, most are sold, but some are given to worthwhile community organizations.
The Enumclaw Senior Center’s new van will supplement the centers 15-passenger wheelchair-accessible van and replaces a small van received from the county back in 2001.
For Dunn, his visit to the senior center solidified his appreciation for its work – and for the surplus van program.
“The county could recoup a small amount by selling this van instead,” Dunn said. “But this is so much more valuable.”
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 can contact Councilmember Dunn at 206-477-1009 or reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov for more information about the 2018 Metro Van Pool Application process.