A new Care-A-Van is hitting the streets in the Comox Valley.

After fifteen years, the Comox Bay Care Society's original Care-A-Van is being replaced on local streets with a new, state-of-the-art vehicle to better serve and support the community. The new vehicle is a 2020 Ford E-450 V10 chassis with an ALP Adventurer build out that has been heavily modified to meet the unique needs of the Care-A-Van crew. The vehicle is 26 feet long, and has only 51,000 km, which will help reduce maintenance costs and promote the longevity of the program.

"The older van is (from) 1989, so it's 35 years old and has been in operation for 15 years every night, rain or shine," said board of directors member Dale Erhart. "It's been run hard and maintenance becomes more and more problematic over time. We started to look for a replacement about eight years ago, because without a van we have no outreach."

The society started to save money, and after receiving a sizeable donation from Ruby Wilson, they were able to source a replacement.

The new van features a customized interior layout, a slide out for more interior space, an improved door to access things like clothes and supplies at the curbside, and improved storage options inside the vehicle.

"Because the old one still has life, it just needs work, we found a new home for it," Erhart said.

"We decided to gift it to Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations on the North Island," said program co-ordinator Sabina Acheson. "They have been doing really good outreach work on the North Island without a vehicle, and have been seeking the supports or capital to help advance their program. Since we were gifted the original vehicle, we wanted to do an act of reciprocity and acknowledge the good work that our neighbouring partners are doing already."

The van will have a permanent home at the Comox United Church, and will be following the same route and schedule as the former vehicle. The van had it's first outing on Aug. 5, and Acheson said "there was no confusion last night, people recognized that it was us."

Over the past 15 years, the Care-A-Van has helped 1,900 people with anything from occupational therapy to mental health support to the new substance use support program.

"Operating three nights a week, rain or shine, snow or holiday, it has been a lifeline for many," a release from the society reads.

For more information on volunteering or donating, visit CVCareavan.ca