People in Motion has a notion

People in Motion executive director Heather Brandon is hoping a campaign to raise money for the agency’s bus will result in a March to remember for maintaining the vehicle in the months ahead. 

DAVE EAGLES PHOTO/KTW

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People in Motion (PIM) gave rides to more than 1,000 people last year taking part in the agency’s programs and events.

And, given the bus used only seats 16 people, that’s a lot of trips.

In fact, said executive director Heather Brandon, for a simple three-hour social event in an evening, the bus would be on the road for two hours before picking up and delivering people — and two hours after to get them all home again.

That’s plenty of wear-and-tear on a six-year-old vehicle and the agency is starting to run into maintenance issues and the costs that accompany them.

To help offset these expenses, Brandon said, the agency is running a Keep Our Bus in Motion campaign in March, with all money donated going to keep those four wheels turning.

There’s no goal, Brandon said; anything donated will be gratefully applied to the bus-maintenance costs.

Expenses have been running at about $2,000 a year in recent years.

However, she added, as the bus ages, more things are likely to break down.

PIM offered 180 programs last year, Brandon said, leading her to describe the place she has been at the helm of for about 18 months as “the little non-profit that does so much.”

It has 280 members, 120 of them active members and the rest families, friends and supporters.

Thirty per cent of the active members are youth, another 20 per cent are young adults and 23 per cent have autism.

PIM offers educational, recreational and social programs, many of them in the evenings and on weekends.

The bus is also taken to local schools, along with a wheelchair for students to try out and attempt to use the bus lift to load onto the vehicle.

The sessions are followed by a discussion on accessibility.

Donations can be sent to the PIM office at 182B Tranquille Rd., or people can call the agency at 250-376-7878.