Press Release:
Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jan Drago (Dist. 8) delivered a retired King County Metro Vanpool van today to the White Center Food Bank. It was the third of three donated vans delivered by Drago to non-profit organizations that help the homeless, the hungry, and young people in neighborhoods in south Seattle and White Center.

“The pressure on local food banks has grown immensely with the lingering economic recession,” said Drago. “Donating this van will help the White Center Food Bank reach more people in need in our community, particularly since people in need of food bank assistance often face challenges with transportation.”

The van will immediately be put into service, helping the White Center Food Bank connect more than 5,000 hungry people each month with healthy, nutritious foods. The White Center Food Bank also assists families with infant and child supplies, cooking and nutrition classes, food and services designed specifically for seniors, and culturally relevant food to better serve the diverse White Center community.

“This van will ensure that seniors who use the food bank will have greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said White Center Food Bank Executive Director Richard Jump. “Through our Healthy Food Gift Certificate Program, each food bank client is given a $5 gift certificate for fresh fruits and vegetables which can be redeemed at local markets, but many of our seniors have mobility or transportation issues and they’re not able to get to these markets. We are excited that we will now be able to provide transportation for those individuals who otherwise would not be able to access this service.”

Since 1995, the County Council, using an annual application process, has donated retired vans to local nonprofit groups to help meet the transportation needs of low-income, seniors, youth, or people with disabilities in King County. The retired vans have been part of Metro Transit’s vanpool fleet for at least six years and have reached the end of their service life. When the vans reach this age, they are considered surplus. The groups are responsible for licensing, insuring and maintaining the vehicles. This year, Councilmember Drago secured vans for the White Center Food Bank and two other organizations in District 8.