Wall, N.J., Dec. 20, 2024 – Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services, is pleased to share it has once again partnered with the Sulzbacher Center, a homeless resource organization located in downtown Jacksonville, to help community members in need this holiday season. This morning, employees from STA’s Duval County bus terminals delivered more than 150 holiday stockings filled with vital hygiene products and snacks– all items collected and donated by STA’s local drivers, monitors, and staff.

The stockings were delivered via school bus to Sulzbacher’s Downtown Urban Rest Stop campus, where representatives from Sulzbacher were on-site to receive the items just in time for the Sulzbacher annual Christmas breakfast. STA’s corporate team also confirmed it was supplementing its local team efforts by committing an additional $2,500 to help the organization purchase grocery gift cards.

“We enjoy collaborating with the Sulzbacher Center each year, this organization is doing great things here in Jacksonville and within the Duval community,” said Pete Conway, Vice President of Operations, Southeast U.S. for Student Transportation of America. “It goes without saying, STA values family and community. Our Jacksonville team always has a lot of fun with this giving effort each year. Our bus drivers, monitors, operations and admin staff all come together to collect these essential items and prepare the stockings by hand. It’s nice to know we’re making Christmas a little brighter for some deserving individuals.”

“The holidays are such a joyous time for many people, but for people living on the street, they can be very painful. That is why efforts like those of our friends at Student Transportation of America are so important. This wonderful stocking gift will be so impactful to the people we serve. It shows them that there are many people out there who do care about them and are remembering them at the holiday,” said Cindy Funkhouser, CEO of Sulzbacher. “This is the third time that STA has blessed us with this holiday donation and we are very grateful to them and everyone on their team that has participated in making this generous gift possible.”

Since opening its doors in 1995, Sulzbacher has worked diligently to provide a continuum of care approach, addressing all aspects of homelessness including housing, income, and healthcare. Over the more than two decades since the agency opened, the services have grown to include street outreach, primary health, behavioral health and dental care for all ages, permanent housing, job placement, and early learning. The Downtown location offers health services, housing support, and most importantly, hope, to men, women, and families – 7 days a week to empower those who are at risk or experiencing homelessness.

The upcoming Christmas breakfast will be held at Sulzbacher’s men’s campus on December 25 where Urban Rest Stop families, as well as anyone in the community who is hungry can attend.  Having previously donated in 2022 and 2023, this marks the third time, STA has selected Sulzbacher to receive its holiday giving effort and clients will have the option to take home a stocking during the event.

STA has provided transportation services to Duval County Public School District students, K-12, for more than 14 years and is fully committed to providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation solutions. To learn more, visit www.ridesta.com.

Images and video from this morning’s STA donation press event at Sulzbacher are available for download.

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About Sulzbacher

Sulzbacher provides the opportunity for homeless and at-risk men, women, and children to achieve a better life. The comprehensive services include street outreach, daily meals, safe shelter, case management, veteran’s services, job training and job placement, medical care including dental, vision, and behavioral health care, and permanent housing. Every day, Sulzbacher is home to 360 members of our community – most of whom are women and children. With the opening of the Sulzbacher Village: a Community for Women and Families, in 2018, the nonprofit added 70 units of permanent supportive housing, women’s veterans housing, a therapeutic early learning center, and a pediatric Health Center to its service array.  For more information, visit www.sulzbacherjax.org

About Student Transportation of America

Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in school transportation and fleet services, was founded in 1997 on the bedrock of family, community, and a safety-first mindset. Operating more than 22,000 vehicles, STA provides customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics, and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company is focused on fostering a safety-driven culture that empowers its employees to feel proud of their work, delivering safe, reliable, and on-time service. Additionally, STA’s commitment to positively impacting the health of our passengers and the planet is evident through its conscious decision to undertake each initiative to decrease its carbon footprint to help move the company and industry toward a greener future. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.

Media Contacts:

Anna Martinez
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
732-301-6547

Jenny LePore
PR Director
[email protected]
469-552-4039