Van GO helps 11 nonprofit causes

Community Transit has donated retired vanpool vans to 11 nonprofits throughout Snohomish County as part of its Van GO program. More than two dozen nonprofits applied for the 12-passenger vehicles to support their programs.

This year’s Van GO recipients include Cascade Seniors and Darrington Bluegrass Association (Darrington), Compass Health (Snohomish County), Cypress House (Lynnwood), Housing Hope (East County), Northwest’s Child (Edmonds), Smithwright Services (Lynnwood), Stanwood Community and Senior Center (Stanwood) Take the Next Step (Monroe), Volunteers of America Western Washington (Snohomish County) and Wonderland Development Center (South Snohomish County).

“These vehicles will provide thousands of trips for people who otherwise may have a hard time getting where they need to go,” Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath said. “Not everyone can take the bus where or when they need to travel. It’s wonderful to be able to provide surplus vans to help meet local transportation needs.”

Since the Van GO program began in 2000, the agency has provided 116 vehicles to a variety of nonprofits in Snohomish County. Each van has about 100,000 miles on it. By state law, other Community Transit surplus vehicles are made available through public auction to help recoup the public investment. More information about the Van GO program is online at www.communitytransit.org/vango.

Lynnwood kicks off new volunteer award

Ed dos Remedios was presented with Lynnwood’s inaugural “Honoring Excellence … and a great deal more” Citizen Award at the Nov. 10 City Council meeting. The award recognizes a citizen who actively participates in our community and volunteers his or her time.

Dos Remedios, a former city councilman, now volunteers with the Civil Service Commission and the Volunteers in Public Safety program. The longtime resident is an active member of St. Thomas More Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In a press release, dos Remedios was described as “a man of integrity, a family man, someone with great values who has an established track record for stepping up to meet the needs of his many friends and the community.”

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