A Lynnwood non-profit is one of ten groups that has a new set of wheels, thanks to Community Transit’s Van GO grant program.

The program provides retired vanpool vehicles – which have reached the end of their useful life for Community Transit – to organizations  who then use them to meet a variety of community needs.

Lynnwood-based Work Opportunities helps people with significant disabilities get into employment training and jobs. The van will provide nearly 1,600 rides to carry disabled people to meetings, medical appointments, job interviews and places of employment.

“These vehicles will provide thousands of trips for people who otherwise may have a hard time getting where they need to go,” said Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor. “At a time when we are forced to cut bus service, it’s wonderful to be able to provide surplus vans to community groups that will use them to help meet local transportation needs.”

The vans are awarded through a competitive process in which non-profits show how they will use them to provide transportation and estimate how many individual rides they will provide.