Island Transit program giving nonprofits a lift

By Laura Guido • September 18, 2018 1:30 am
Mel Watson, of Island Senior Resources, shows off the key to the first van used in Island Transit’s RideLink program for nonprofits. Island Transit Executive Director Mike Nortier and Julie Lloyd, who coordinates the program, look on. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News Group
Mel Watson, of Island Senior Resources, shows off the key to the first van used in Island Transit’s RideLink program for nonprofits. Island Transit Executive Director Mike Nortier and Julie Lloyd, who coordinates the program, look on. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News Group

The inaugural van in Island Transit’s new RideLink program left the lot Monday afternoon with a group of optimistic staffers from Island Senior Resources.

The South Whidbey-based nonprofit plans to use the van to extend opportunities in its Time Together Adult Day Program, said Program Director Mel Watson.

“We’re excited to get this implemented in our program,” Watson said.

Time Together — which provides a day of activities, discussion and a nutritious meal for adults and seniors with cognitive or physical disabilities — only operates twice a week in Oak Harbor. Watson wants to use the van to bring North Whidbey participants to the Freeland center, where the program happens Monday through Friday.

Watson said that means more days for Oak Harbor participants, but it also makes the program more inclusive in blending the North and South Whidbey populations.

“It’s also an opportunity for some folks to have an adventure,” she said.

She noted many individuals who participate in Time Together face significant transportation barriers. With the van, she and the two other trained staff members can pick up and drop off the people at their homes. She just started notifying participants of the opportunity, because she wanted to ensure the van is available before scheduling pickups.

Through the program, which is exclusive to nonprofits, the vans are assigned to the organizations and kept at their locations to be used as needed. The organizations will report on how its being used, how much fuel is used and the number of riders. Island Transit takes care of preventative maintenance needed while day-to-day upkeep, like keeping it clean, is done by the nonprofit, according to Island Transit Executive Director Mike Nortier.

There are six vans in the program. Whidbey Veterans Resource Center and Whidbey Homeless Coalition are the next organizations that have completed training and are slated to drive the next vans off the lot.

Nortier said he hopes to increase the number of vehicles available as demand increases.

“We’re looking forward to seeing success with this program and driving more growth in the future,” Nortier said.

Watson is excited about the possibilities for access the program will provide.

“We’re all fairly uplifted by the program.”