Ten nonprofits and some very special guests gathered in the Community Transit boardroom Thursday as the transit agency announced the recipients of the 14th Van GO vehicle grant program.

Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, the Community Transit Board Chair, announced that two clubs within the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County were Van GO recipients. Six school-aged members stole the show when they accepted keys on behalf of their clubs for vans that will be used to transport kids to and from school and summer programs.

The Mukilteo and Edmonds Boys & Girls Clubs were two out of 10 groups selected to receive retired Community Transit vans. The 10 surplus vans, earmarked for auction, were awarded to local nonprofit organizations to further meet the local demand for transportation. Collectively, the vehicles will provide 42,000 annual trips for youth, survivors of domestic violence, seniors and others that will benefit from the important work carried out by the local nonprofits. 

Community Transit launched the Van GO program in 2000 and has since awarded 136 vans and wheelchair lift-equipped paratransit vehicles to qualified 501(c)3 organizations throughout Snohomish County. These organizations primarily serve residents of the Community Transit service area. This includes all incorporated cities and towns in Snohomish County, as well as the Tulalip Reservation and portions of unincorporated Snohomish County, with the exception of Everett.

More information about the Van GO program is online www.communitytransit.org/VanGo.

“We are excited today to grant some surplus vehicles to nonprofit organizations that enhance the access to transportation for all of the people of Snohomish County,” Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath said.

This year, 30 groups submitted applications demonstrating how they would use the vehicles to benefit people in their community. Ten nonprofits now have the ability to provide trips to the communities they serve thanks to retired vans in the competitive grant program.

This year’s Van GO recipients include:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County– (Mukilteo and Edmonds)
• Courage to Change Housing (Lynnwood)
• Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County (Everett)
• Homage Senior Services (Lynnwood)
• Miracles and Memories Academy (Monroe)
• Snohomish Senior Center (Snohomish)
• The Bridge Receiving Center (Redmond)
• Volunteers of America (Sky Valley)
• YWCA of Seattle King Snohomish (Everett)

Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County – (2) 15-passenger vans

Mukilteo and Edmonds Boys & Girls Clubs promotes and enhances the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Combined, the two clubs expect to provide over 15,000 trips by transporting children to and from school, field trips, and summer camp.

Courage to Change Housing: 7-passenger van

Lynnwood-based Courage to Change Housing provides housing and transportation to clients who are in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol. Courage to Change Housing expects to provide 4,888 trips to men and women who have committed to the betterment of their lives through recovery from addiction.

Homage Senior Services:  7-passenger van

Lynnwood-based Homage Senior Services helps promote independence, preserve dignity and enhance the quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities. Homage Senior Services expects to provide over a 1,000 trips annually to help get residents to their much needed dialysis and medical appointments as well as provide transportation to their work locations.