For the second year in a row, Vine Maple Place received a van donated by King County Councilman Reagan Dunn.

Dunn handed over the keys of a 2007 Chevy Uplander to Associate Executive Director Michelle Frets June 4.

“We are beyond excited,” Frets said. “This is a big deal.”

Each year, every King County Council member is given three retired King County Metro Rideshare vans to donate to local organizations.

“Extending the lives of these vans helps organizations like Vine Maple extend the services they can offer,” Dunn said.

Vine Maple Place was in need of another van to help transport and pick up children.

Director of Development for Vine Maple Place, Lorene Palmer, said the van will enable them to serve more children.

Vine Maple Place, Frets said, takes kids to medical appointments, picks them up from school and the van will allow the children to be  part of a number of different clubs.

“This van will allow us to focus on the kids’ programs,” Frets said.

Kyle Serquinia, children’s case manager at Vine Maple Place, was there as the keys were handed over Thursday.

Serquinia said this second van will allow them to expand programs for youth.

“We couldn’t always drive all the kids around,” he said.

Vine Maple Place began helping families in 2000.

It is located in Maple Valley and addresses the issues of family homelessness, according to their mission statement on their website.

Its main areas of service include Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Covington and connecting areas of Kent, Renton and Auburn.

There are a number of families who live on the property and there are different programs Vine Maple Place provides to help families get back on their feet.

“The work they do is invaluable to their community and I am pleased to play a role in assisting their efforts,” Dunn said.