The Intercity Transit board of directors recently awarded the Olympia (Wash.) Christian School (OCS) a 12-passenger van, a grant based largely on demonstrated benefit to the community.
The board said they are amazed at how many acts of service OCS students provide in the community.
"We're teaching students about the importance of walking in the footsteps of Jesus," says Anita McKown, OCS principal.
The OCS students regularly participate in community-service projects like pulling invasive ivy at Priest Point Park, collecting items for the SafePlace shelter and helping the Stream Team program with native plantings at Woodard Creek.
In addition, OCS teamed up with local private and public schools to present "To Haiti with Love from the Kids of Thurston County," a concert that raised $7,000 for disaster relief in Haiti.
Music groups from OCS also performed at United Way's Born Learning Trail, where students also introduced city dignitaries. At another event, OCS students provided music at a Christmas party for Thurston County's foster children. Older students regularly serve as pages in the Washington State Legislature and volunteer monthly at the Thurston County Food Bank.
The new van, expected to arrive soon from the Intercity Transit, will help OCS better transport students on fieldtrips and into the community they serve.
Pictured here is the new van for the Olympia Christian School. The van will better transport students on fieldtrips into the community they serve. (Valley Transit)
Olympia Christian School students are better able to serve the community with a new van for transportation. (Heidi Ordelheide)
