Community Outreach
We pride ourselves in our commitment to our local communities. Here are some of the events we participate in:
-
Williows, CA
Lamb Derby Parade in Willows and Glenn County Parade in Orland (annually) – We operate a bus and our staff volunteer to walk the parade routes and pass out candy.
Glenn County Health Fair (annually) – We attend with a bus, schedules, and program information to assist the community in using the bus to get to their health care appointments. We also provide activities for children, items for give-away, and a drawing for a monthly pass.
-
Lower Lake, CA
Make A Difference Day (annually) – Lake Transit participates in the National Make a Difference Day "Stuff-A-Bus" event, sponsored by the Lake County Hunger Task Force and NCO Community Action. Paratransit Services’ Lake Transit staff parks buses at local grocery stores, and collects food donations with the goal of "stuffing the bus" with food. The donations are then distributed to local senior centers and community service groups.
"Thank you so much for allowing us to use two buses from Lake Transit for our 8th annual Stuff-A-Bus event...This food will make a tremendous difference in the lives of people who utilize the fifteen pantries and senior centers around the lake."-Lori Gray, Event Coordinator, Lake County Hunger Task Force (10/30/17 letter)
-
Medford, OR
Central Point After School Program and Annual Easter Egg Hunt (annually) – Staff volunteer at the school for after school programs and run the Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
AA Meetings/Sponsor Alcoholics/Addicts – Staff volunteers at the County Jail and have become AA sponsors for individuals serving time.
Food Baskets and Christmas Gifts – Staff prepares and organizes food baskets and Christmas Gifts for kids for the needy in the community.
Care packages for Military and College Students (biannually)– Staff organize and prepare care packages for those serving in the military and college students.
-
Truckee, CA
Truckee Thursdays (annually, during the summer) – For several Thursdays each summer, historic downtown Truckee is transformed into an exciting street fair featuring local and regional artisans, food trucks, a beer garden and live music. Truckee TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) encourages attendees to "leave the car behind" and ride its free community shuttle service, operated by our staff in Truckee, to and from the downtown area and locations outside of town.
-
Calaveras, CA
Social Services Technical Assistance Committee (ongoing) – Our General Manager in San Andreas, Cynthia Lawrence, is Chair of the Social Services Technical Assistance Committee, which serves as a forum for identifying unmet needs and opportunities for social services in the local community.
Mark Twain Health Fair (September 2019)– Members of our team in San Andreas staffed a booth for the health fair presented by the Mark Twain Medical Center. They provided information about the public transit system, and handed-out schedules, magnets, and transit bags. (The buses have recently been painted and rebranded for Calaveras Connect, and attendees at the fair offered very positive comments about the new look!)
-
Longview, WA
Project Homeless Connect – (annually) Our RiverCities LIFT staff provide free transportation to the Project Homeless Connect event. Organized by Cowlitz Housing FIRST! Coalition, the 1-day event provides attendees who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, with with access to meals, clothing, job search information, and other social services.
Local Assisted Living Homes – We provide travel training for people living in these homes.
Veterans Stand Down (annually) – We provide free transportation to the Cowlitz County Veteran Stand Down and Expo event.
-
Lassen, CA
Bizz Johnson Trail Fall Colors Bike Ride (annually in October) – We work with Lassen Land and Trails to provide transportation for bicyclists to the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail. We take 2 or 3 buses, with trailers in tow full of bicycles, from Susanville to various trailheads. From there the bicyclists can ride the trail back to town while viewing the amazing fall colors of the Susan River Canyon!
Christmas Lights Tour (annually in December) – Our Lassen Rural Bus team enjoys working with the Susanville Kiwanis Club to provide a bus tour for local local seniors to see Christmas lights in Susanville.
Safe Ride Home (annually on New Year's Eve) – To help Susanville residents return home safely following their New Year's Eve celebrations, our drivers operate a night route that includes several popular establishments that serve alcohol, and provide free rides home for the celebrants. The "Safe Ride Home" buses may run as late as 2:30 a.m.
-
Grass Valley, CA
4th of July Parade (annually)– Our Gold Country LIFT staff in Grass Valley participate in the 4th of July Parade each year, which alternates between Grass Valley and Nevada City. We decorate a bus or a van in red, white, and blue and always receive cheers from the crowds.
Nevada County Fair (annually) – We have a booth set up each year outside of the fairgrounds to provide shade and water during our hot August days. This provides a centralized drop location for passengers to wait for their bus to arrive. We also provide community outreach about the services we provide. This is our busiest event of the year!
Disability and Aging Conference (annually) – Each summer we provide a booth at this important community event to explain our services to potential riders, and to talk with current riders about their experiences.
Social Services Transportation Advisory Council – Our Grass Valley General Manager holds a seat with this council, which focuses on maintaining and improving transportation services for Nevada County with a focus on seniors and people who have disabilities.
-
Red Bluff, CA
Corning Olive Festival (annually in the fall) – Our staff in Red Bluff operate a bus for tours of the local olive processing facilities, local olive groves, and the town of Corning (led by the Mayor of Corning). We also operate parking shuttles for the festival, and participate in the Corning Olive Parade with a bus adorned with olive-themed decorations.
Red Bluff Round-Up Parade (annually in the spring) – The Red Bluff Roundup is a major local event, with roots going back to the early 1900's when local cattlemen held a rodeo following the spring round-up of their herds. Today, the Red Bluff Round-Up comprises several days of festivities, including a 3-day rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Paratransit Services local team, when scheduling allows, decorates a bus and participates in the parade.
LIFT Tehama event (annually in November) – The LIFT (Live Inspired For Tomorrow) event, held at the Tehama County Fairgrounds, provides supplies and services to people who are low income and homeless. Our Red Bluff staff sets-up a booth to provide information about the transit services we operate, and hands-out bus passes, provided by the County, to the attendees.
Tehama County Elder Services Coordinating Council (monthly meeting) - Our General Manager in Red Bluff, Sharon Young, is a member of this council. Although she is a representative for transportation issues, she has found that regardless of the topic under review at the monthly meetings, transportation will be relevant in some way, and she provides information on how local transit resources could be helpful.
-
Bremerton, Wa
Georgia’s House (opened April, 2011) – Georgia’s House' is named in honor of the late Georgia Mattson, a local resident who advocated for people who are homeless. The project, spearheaded by the Weaver Foundation in partnership with the Bremerton Rescue Mission, provides housing for homeless women and their children. Paratransit Services provides the facility to the shelter.
Corporate/Brokerage Staff Bremerton Foodline (annual event) – Paratransit Services’ employees donate to the Bremerton Foodline.
Presentation to St. Gabriel Church Mission Team (2018) – On August 6, 2018, Paratransit Services Board of Directors Chairman Bill Mahan, and Director Mary Ann Huntington visited St. Gabriel Church in Port Orchard, Washington, to give a presentation to middle school students who are members of the parish Mission Team. They spoke to the students about the importance of transportation for their neighbors in need, and the assistance provided by Paratransit Services. The Mission Team is made up of youth and adults who set time aside in the summer for community service activities. In appreciation for the presentation, the Mission Team sent a wonderful "Thank You" letter to Mr. Mahan and Mrs. Huntington.
Night to Shine (2023) – A prom for people with special needs who are 16 years of age or older, Night to Shine provides a wonderful opportunity for attendees to receive VIP treatment as they get dressed up in formal attire with corsages and boutonnieres, and then have a fun time together eating, dancing, and singing. At the end of this festive evening, each Night to Shine guest is crowned as a king or queen of the prom. The event, which was held in Silverdale, Washington, is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, and hosted by newlife church. Paratransit Services was a community sponsor, and our Executive Assistant/Clerk of the Board, Kristen Syreini, was a volunteer.
-
Other Community Activities
Kitsap Economic Development Alliance – Membership/annual events
Home Builders Association – Membership/annual events
Bremerton Chamber of Commerce – Membership/annual events
CalACT – Founding Member and annual events
CTAA – Membership and annual conference sponsorships
PCCTC – Pierce County Coordinated Transportation Coalition – Founding member
PSRC – Puget Sound Regional Council – Voting member of the Special Needs Transportation Committee
CTANW – Coordinated Transportation Association of the Northwest – Member
Washington Highway Users Federation – Member
NPIP – Not for Profit Insurance Pool – Founding Member and Long Term Board Member