DOL takes services on the road to Mattawa
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 3 weeks AGO
MATTAWA — The Department of Licensing “DOL2Go” unit, along with the Department of Social and Health Services, is coming to Mattawa on April 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Columbia Basin Health Association Wahluke Clinic, 601 Government Road. This event will provide a variety of resources for the community to utilize.
This event is being organized by Learning Bridge, a nonprofit organization, along with the city of Mattawa to help provide this essential service to the community.
“It’s very important because transportation is a barrier in the community,” said Elia Mendoza, the founder of Learning Bridge. “Not only that, but Mattawa is mostly an agricultural community, so missing a day of work could be harmful to their wages to make ends meet.”
With Mattawa’s closest access to these services being available in Othello, having a service available in town helps give citizens a closer opportunity to get these essential tasks done.
The event in Mattawa is open to anyone with no appointment necessary. Payments for the services will be debit or credit only; cash will not be accepted.
The focus of DOL2Go is to help under-resourced residents in the state get the services they need to live, work and drive, according to the DOL website. These mobile units provide the same services as traditional DOL offices such as issuing first time Washington driver’s licenses or ID cards, including enhanced, out of state transfers, renewal of licenses, permits or ID cards, driver record, reinstatement letters and document review for proof of identity.
DOL2Go has previously served communities in the Columbia Basin, heading to both Quincy and Royal in February and making a return to Quincy April 2.
With the DSHS, people can apply for services such as food stamps and medical coverage or make updates to their existing services.
“All the services that the DSHS offers at a regular office; they can also do it here at the mobile office,” said Mendoza.
The DSHS has been to Mattawa prior to this event in another traveling service event, and because they saw a need in the community, they will make regular visits to Mattawa every second Tuesday of the month starting in May and running through the fall.
“They can obtain our services online, but because we are a majority Spanish speaking community and a lot of us have a technology barrier, it’s important for them to (have services) in person,” said Mendoza. “It’s important to bring these services where the community is at to try to remove most of those barriers.”
DOL2Go returns to Royal City on May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for another opportunity citizens can take to utilize these services.
Organizations or municipalities interested in having DOL2Go services come to their community or to an event can submit a DOL2Go Event Request on the DOL website. A list of all events scheduled can be found on the DOL website.
DOL2Go/DSHS event
April 30, noon- 4 p.m.
Mattawa Wahluke Clinic Parking lot
601 Government Way, Mattawa
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