Surplus Van Grant Program | Intercity Transit

Each year, if qualified vans are available, Intercity Transit grants retired vehicles to nonprofit or community organizations in our service district (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm) through a competitive review and award process. Our next anticipated Surplus Van Grant will open in fall of 2025. Let us know your interest and we will email an application packet when the process begins. For questions about this program, please contact vanpool@intercitytransit.com.

Surplus Van Grant Program Grantees

2024

No qualified vans were available in 2024, so we were unable to grant any vehicles.

2023

No qualified vans were available in 2023, so we were unable to grant any vehicles.

2022

No qualified vans were available in 2022, so we were unable to grant any vehicles.

2021

The Bridge Music Project teaches youth how music, writing and community can be used as tools to deal with life’s challenges. Most of the youth who participate have experienced major life challenges such as foster care, homelessness, and incarceration. The Bridge partners with the City of Olympia, Olympia School District, Olympia Juvenile and Family Court, and Together. They face a consistent challenge – transportation!
City of Olympia Homeless Response Team and Scattered Site Program: The Homeless Response Team responds to issues and concerns related to people experiencing homelessness. This program will dedicate the surplus van to responding to situations efficiently and effectively, offering needed supplies such as water, food, hygiene items, socks, hand warmers, and garbage bags. They plan to transport 1,300 people to needed resources in the community next year to include access to mental and medical services. The Scattered Site Program works with three homeless sites. Their mission is Together, Safe and Clean for All. There are an estimated 150 individuals who reside in these scattered sites. This program expects to provide 780 trips next year, connecting to housing services and other resources. They do not currently own a vehicle and are Community Vans users. These two programs will share a van.
Coastal Community Action Program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of families, the elderly, children and youth, and people with disabilities. The transportation problem they are proposing to solve with a surplus van is to provide reliable transportation for developmentally disabled participants that do not have access to public transportation. This will allow the opportunity to gain independence and work toward self-sufficiency. They currently work closely with our Village Vans program to provide transportation outside the Village Vans service hours and service area. They are currently unable to accommodate 70-80 trips each month for current clients. The surplus van award will allow them to expand services throughout Thurston County.
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative's (IHTC) mission is to engage first responders, tribes, and other stakeholders in eliminating human trafficking through solution-based knowledge and trauma-informed strategies, and to empower survivors to heal and build self-sufficient, affirming lives. IHTC is the only Indigenous and survivor-lead human trafficking services organization in Washington, and the only organization in the South Sound serving Indigenous survivors of human trafficking. Currently IHTC staff uses their person cars for transportation. A surplus van from Intercity Transit would allow staff to transport clients and other stakeholders throughout Thurston County.
Interfaith Works Homeless Services Program currently operates 61 shelter beds which provided 22,265 bed nights in 2020 for 205 adults. Their Navigation Team reaches 300 unsheltered people each month. In 2021 they will complete construction of a new facility, titled Unity Commons. This will be a 60-bed shelter along with 65 apartments and will provide 140 adults with a place to live and thrive. Their transportation needs will increase dramatically with this expansion. They will use a surplus van to provide trips to DSHS, Social Security, medical appointments, and the Food Bank.
OlyMAP provides services to individuals experiencing homelessness. They work with a population with many barriers. Having a van of their own would allow them important flexibility in transporting participants to appointments, job interviews, and community resources. They anticipate 1,938 trips next year to the Food Bank, to work, field trips, and summer camps. OlyMAP is an active Community Vans user.
Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE) works with unhoused survivors of violence, prioritizing BIPOC and transgender survivors. They provide outreach, survivor advocacy, and trauma-informed therapy and support groups. With the support of Community Vans, they provide outreach to 12-15 encampments of unhoused people, transporting them to appointments and providing survival goods. Receiving a van would support their program by providing a consistent way of transporting more people to safety confidentially and allow them to expand their program.
Peer Washington: Peer Olympia is the newest service location for Peer Washington. They opened their doors to provide a full array of peer support services to adults in Thurston County, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness and veterans. They do not currently have transportation support to access services. They do not own any vehicles. They will use a van to bring people from places such as SafePlace, Camp Quixote, Plum Street tiny houses, and Lacey Veterans Hub for weekly support meetings with peer coaches or employment and housing Peer Services Specialists. 1,200 trips are planned for this upcoming year.
SafePlace: There are number of transportation problems that would be alleviated at SafePlace if awarded a Surplus Van, so they thank Intercity Transit for this opportunity. SafePlace provides services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in this county and is celebrating its 40^th year serving Thurston County. With over 30 employees covering services in six programs: Emergency Shelter; Supportive Housing; Legal Advocacy; Sexual Assault Services; 24/7 Crisis Helpline, and Prevention Programs. The agency currently has only one vehicle. Having another van would be instrumental to SafePlace improving service options within these program areas.
Senior Services for South Sound’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people as they age. They provide Transportation, Senior Nutrition, Brighter Days Adult Day Care, Care Connection, Senior Center Activities, Resource Advocates, State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, Trips & Tours, and Budd Bay Bargains. These programs all support the organization’s mission to fulfill the needs of seniors. They provide transportation to those without access. They partner with Catholic Community Services and Volunteer Services and own a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country vans with just under 200,000 miles which has become unreliable, and the surplus van would replace this vehicle.
The River Walkers has limited vehicle access to transport youth to activities such as school activities, and field trips, indigenous cultural experiences, and tribal canoe journeys. They are a supplemental program for Camp Wa-Ya. They plan for 1,740 trips with a surplus van.
TOGETHER has a vision that all young people are supported, healthy, safe, and valued. They mobilize families, schools, and the community to solve community problems. They would benefit if awarded a van due to the need to transport youth, supplies, and distribute assistance to the community they serve. They currently have one van and use North Thurston School District for transportation, which is not enough. A second van would allow for expansion of services. They expect 862 added trips with a surplus van.
Thurston County Food Bank: now in their thirteenth year, they have continuously run a gleaning program to ensure that surplus fresh fruits and vegetables produced on local farms and community gardens make it to community members in need. Intercity Transit has been an integral partner in that work, providing them with a surplus van to transport hundreds of volunteers and 277,000 pounds of food since 2010. With a new van they expect to add 448 trips with the added benefit of transporting 300-400 pounds of fresh produce.
Thurston County Police Academy Athletic Association Elite Boxing Academy anticipates 2,024 trips for at-risk youth, providing them with life skills by deescalating situations and maintaining self-control. They are the Elite Boxing Academy and serve 70 members who attend training sessions, tournaments, assist with homework, tutoring, and provide transportation to and from school. Providing this organization with a van will help the youth fulfill their goals and objectives.
Veterans Service Hub – City of Lacey: Lacey Veterans Service Hub is a one-stop location for Veterans Services. Services include Benefits and Financial Eligibility Screening, Military Service Verification and Documentation, Education and Academic Eligibility Screening, Veterans Administration Claims Assistance, Mental and Physical Health Benefits and Referral, Substance Abuse Referral, Rural Veteran Program Access and Outreach, Housing and Food Assistance, Employment and Training Opportunities, and Peer to Peer Training. Many Vets cannot financially afford a vehicle, fuel, or other modes of transportation. Many have disabilities that prevent them from driving or walking alone. The surplus van will be utilized to assist transportation needs with an expected 7,200 trips annually.