Student transportation provider Durham School Services donated a mini school bus to the Little Egg Harbor Police Junior Recruits in New Jersey for their youth program events.

The recruits program was created for community youth interested in the military or law enforcement. Children in the program are highly involved in their community and often volunteer at food pantries, clean-ups, and local school projects. It’s expected the bus also will be used for safety and emergency transportation.

The donation was made as part of Durham School Services’ company-wide “Partners Beyond the Bus” community outreach program. These donations help repurpose retired non-electric vehicles from DSS fleets, contributing to the company’s transition to alternative fuel-powered and zero-emission buses. The company plans to transition its entire fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

“This small bus donation is a tremendous asset to our youth program because transportation for some of our members is a constant issue,” said Sean Crotty, sergeant and community relations officer with the Little Egg Harbor Police Department. “So, whether it's a community event that we are assisting with or our field trips, the donated bus is vital for us. We are also associated with our police department, so the bus could also be utilized during state of emergencies and critical incidents. We are very appreciative to Durham for stepping up without hesitation when we reached out for this donation.”

“Our team and company strongly believe in giving back and helping the communities in which we serve,” said Little Egg Harbor General Manager Patty Manzoni. “We saw our previous bus donation's positive impact on the community, so when Sgt. Crotty reached out inquiring about a possible donation, we agreed right away. It’s for a great cause, and Sgt. Crotty is a great mentor to those kids. It’s the least we can do to help foster volunteerism and build positive experiences for these kids.”