Facilities · The Van
The van has a name, and the name is Deb.
A 2006 plumbing van, donated in 2022, repainted forest green, and filled with tools. Deb does 96 neighborhood visits a year.
- Make
- 2006 Ford E-350
- Donated
- 2022
- Visits/year
- 96
- Named after
- A plumber
Deb was a plumbing van for sixteen years. The plumber's name was Deb. When she retired, she donated the van to us on the condition that we keep the name, which we did, and which is why there is a small plaque on the dash that says DEB.
What is inside
- A fold-out workbench with a vise and a full hand-tool kit
- A pop-up salon chair, mirror, and a sanitizing station
- Two crates of craft materials and a hand-crank sewing machine
- A small generator, a canopy, and four folding tables
- A repair kit for bicycles, which is used more than anything else
Where Deb goes
Deb visits schools, apartment courtyards, church parking lots, the Saturday market, and one unforgettable birthday party. The schedule is set monthly and prioritizes neighborhoods where kids cannot easily get to a site — the far east side, Cully, and the Cully-adjacent apartment complexes where we know there are kids but no bus line.
Deb needs
Deb is 20 years old and has 148,000 miles. In 2025 she needed a transmission ($9,400) and a new alternator. She is currently fine. The wishlist includes a set of tires and a second canopy.
The van is the answer to the question 'what about kids who cannot get to you?' It took us eleven years to save for it. It should have taken three.
Ask Deb to visit
Six weeks out, no fee, 15 kids minimum, and a place to park. Email the community director.