Durham School Services recently donated one of its school buses to a New Jersey fire company to help transport equipment during emergencies.

The bus donation to Parkertown Volunteer Fire Company is part of Durham’s company-wide Partners Beyond the Bus program, which was established to strengthen customer and community partnerships through volunteering, as well as to raise awareness of those volunteer efforts, according to a news release from the school bus company.

The Parkertown Volunteer Fire Company and Durham’s Little Egg Harbor Township location have reportedly been community partners for over 14 years.

“We are deeply committed to giving back and elevating the communities in which we serve by donating our time, money, and services as part of our company-wide Partners Beyond the Bus program,” said Patty Manzoni, general manager of Durham’s Little Egg Harbor Township location. “This opportunity with the Parkertown Volunteer Fire Company allowed us to further demonstrate our commitment not only as a community partner, but also to our number one priority — safety.”

Frank Runza, chief of the Parkertown Fire Company, echoed similar sentiments.

“This bus donation from Durham School Services will make a significant impact on the community and our ability to be better equipped to respond to emergency situations,” Runza said. “We are lucky to have such an involved community partner like Durham School Services who values safety just as much as we do, and we look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.”