As the largest school transportation company in North America, we do more than safely transport students to and from school. Our teams of bus drivers, monitors, location and safety managers spread joy and cheer across the country, during the holidays and all year long. Here’s a look at their generosity in action. We are grateful for employees who truly #careforstudents.
Fresno, CA
Location Manager Sharon Murphy and her team collected toys to donate to children in foster care through the Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency.
Niles, MI
It’s no secret that our bus drivers go beyond the call of duty to make the holidays merry and bright for our sweet passengers. Thanks to our special needs monitor, Cynthia Barkmann, and the local radio station that granted her wish for Collin and Levi. Take a listen here, and grab your tissues.
Roseburg, OR
Our Oregon team decorated a bus and float and placed second and third in two different community parades. They spread cheer and joy in the community.
Newark, DE
Our teams in Newark, Delaware weren’t without holiday spirit this season. Through their generosity, they donated to a local toy drive and a food drive. They also enjoyed the merriment and cheer of each other during their ugly sweater contest.
Healy, AK
Our team in Healy, Alaska was full of the giving spirit this holiday season. They delivered boxes of food and angel tree gifts to 150 families. We appreciate our bus drivers who donated their time to this worthy cause supporting the Neighbor To Neighbor food bank. Thanks for helping the big guy at the North Pole spread some cheer!
Racine, WI
Santa Claus came to town on a school bus, visiting neighborhoods and families in need on Christmas morning. First Student partnered with the Racine Police Department and a local 4H Club to collect, wrap and deliver more than 200 presents. You can read more about the generous donation and history of the event here.
South Bend, IN
The South Bend Team decorated a First Student bus to look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for their Holiday Light Parade.
South Holland, IL
Big Shout out to our team for giving back to their community and supporting the Better Sister and Brother Growth Network’s toy drive. We appreciate them living our values and sharing the Christmas spirit!
Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
One of our drivers in snowy Canada dressed up as Santa Claus to spread holiday cheer to his students. We appreciate Roy Nagam for caring for our students!
Branford, CT
Location Manager Charlotte Charbono and the Branford team took home the Most Creative Float award in this year’s Tree Lighting Parade. The theme was First Student: The safest way to deliver Branford students through the Candy Cane Forest.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Red Noses Unite! During the holiday season, a team of Winnipeg First Student drivers offered up their services to help get Winnipeg citizens home safely after their holiday celebrations. The team of six drivers volunteered for Operation Red Nose, a free designated driver service provided on the weekends, during the month of December. People using the service were safely driven home in their vehicle by two Red Nose volunteers with the third member of the team following behind to pick up the volunteer driver and navigator. The team then reunited and headed to their next call. Team Winnipeg is living our values of focusing on safety and fostering teamwork!
Wichita, KS
First Student drivers delivered presents to 50 children who otherwise may not have had a lot under the tree this year. The drivers identified kids they saw on their daily routes whose families were struggling and they loaded up two buses with gifts and set out to play Santa for the day. Thanks for sharing this story KWCH 12 News and thanks to our team in Wichita for supporting your students from Wichita Public Schools and making spirits bright. You are living our values of caring for students.
Windsor, Ontario
The 9th Annual Santa School Bus was a success! First Student, in partnership with the local school district, filled four buses with food, clothing and toys for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society Adopt A Family program. Special thanks to our dedicated bus drivers, the Windsor Police Service, and all volunteers who made this festive initiative a huge success!
Buffalo, NY
In December our location manager and driver in Buffalo, NY provided some light and hope for a young boy dealing with grief after losing several family members in a short time. His behavior on the bus was out of the ordinary. By connecting with his mother, our team devised a plan to help the young boy improve his behavior and in return have his Christmas wish of a jacket (second after good grades), granted before the holiday break. You can tell by his smile that he was proud of his progress and thankful for our First Student team’s heart, kindness and patience.
Granite City, IL
Our Granite City team partnered with the local non-profit All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes. The group provides free socks and shoes for local students. First Student provided the transportation for more than 130 students to go shopping. Location Manager Charles Smilinich helped some of the students pick out their new shoes!
New Fairfield, CT
New Fairfield lit up the night for the community’s annual Parade of Lights. Location Manager Kim Humiston and her team decked out a First Student bus and rocked the parade route!
Seattle, WA
First Student Seattle donated more than 100 toys to a local after-school program. The program specializes in providing various resources to needy families, including food and social services. Big thanks to the drivers for donating the various toys and games!
Port Huron, MI
First Student team members and students in Port Huron, Michigan helped stuff the bus with winter coats and toys for the local non-profit, Kids in Distress. Big thanks to the entire team for filling up an entire bus with donations for kids in need.
Burlington, Ontario
Driver Elly Rodriguez Salinas made her students feel extra special this holiday season. She cross-stitched snowman ornaments. It took 177 squares, 59 carrots for noses and 118 googly eyes. Elly has been working on these since September. Thank you, Elly, for living out the First Student value of caring for students.
Helena, MT
Instead of stealing gifts this year, the Grinch delivered Christmas cheer to two families in need. The Helena team adopted two of their employees’ families and raised money to buy them surprise gifts. Special thanks to Location Safety Manager Dan Redford who dressed up as the Grinch to make the special deliveries!
Pine Bush, NY
Driver Dave Lounsberry handed out handmade crocheted snowmen to all the elementary students on his route (kudos to his wife for making them). Thank you, Dave for spreading holiday cheer!