Intercity Transit’s Village Vans Program Trains Volunteers for Life Changing Careers

Intercity Transit provides lifeline mobility options for individuals living in the Thurston County area. As a service of the agency, Village Vans  was created to strengthen their mission of providing and promoting public transportation choices that support an accessible, sustainable, livable, healthy and prosperous community.

Funded by federal and state grants and operating in partnership with local social and public service agencies, Village Vans is an important community asset available to any low-income resident of Olympia, Lacey or Tumwater in need of employment-related transportation for whom taking the bus is difficult.

Village Vans wouldn’t be the success story that it is without the most important aspect of the program: its volunteers in the Driver Training and Job Skills Program.

Volunteers begin by receiving professional driver training. Through this defensive driving training course, drivers are trained how to drive properly while receiving one-on-one training from staff before transporting passengers. With direct support and ongoing training efforts, volunteers learn how to improve their driving skills and safely navigate the community.

In addition to on-the-job driving experience, the program also includes professional training that focuses on communication skills, interview techniques, computer skills, resume and cover letter writing, organizational and interpersonal skills, and internal department job shadowing.

Not only do participants build their professional network and learn how to make positive impressions while job searching, but many quickly go on to get jobs. In fact, they have a 43% higher chance of finding employment than non-volunteers.