Every December, we hear about school bus operations pitching in to help their communities celebrate the holidays and to provide for those in need. The ubiquity of news like this speaks to the generosity and good will of the people in the pupil transportation industry. Here’s a great example:

The staff at Student Transportation of America’s (STA) Santa Maria, Calif., location transforms a yellow school bus into a float for the city’s annual Christmas Parade of Lights. This year, they turned a bus into Noah’s ark (see photo above).

STA has serviced the Santa Maria-Bonita School District since 1987 and has been a part of the local Christmas parade since 1988. The company employs more than 70 area residents.

“Events like this are important to our staff, because we have been servicing the area for so long,” noted Paula Sauvadon, vice president of operations for STA. “It is our way of giving back to a great community and a great partner.”

In addition to creating a float for the parade, the STA Santa Maria staff donates time to many volunteer programs in the area each year. They also hold an annual holiday toy drive, a food drive and a “Stuff the Bus” school supplies drive.

Is your operation doing anything interesting this holiday season? If so, tell us about it in the comment section below.

— Thomas McMahon, Executive Editor