ST. JOHNS, MI: This holiday season, Clinton Transit is shining a light on what moves the Blue Bus beyond its routes: a deep commitment to caring for the community it serves. While the Blue Bus is best known for helping Clinton County residents reach essential services and everyday destinations, its impact extends far beyond transportation—especially during the season of giving.
For the Clinton Transit team, supporting neighbors in need is a cherished tradition that grows stronger each year. Employees volunteer their time, pool resources, and partner with local organizations to lift up families facing hardship. Their efforts often begin long before the holidays and continue well after, demonstrating a year-round dedication to service.
This past year’s giving included several major initiatives:
- Adopt-a-Family for Thanksgiving: Staff sponsored a local family referred through Voices for Clinton County’s Children, providing groceries and essentials for a full holiday meal. One mother shared, “I honestly didn’t know what we’d do for Thanksgiving. This will feed us for weeks. This is such a huge blessing.”
- Adopt-a-Family for Christmas: Through Beacon of Hope, employees supported a single father of four with gifts, household items, and food. In a heartfelt message, he said, “You made these kids so incredibly happy…They said it was the best Christmas ever! It was a huge relief to have something under the tree.”
- Food pantry support: Clinton Transit delivered 300 pounds of food to the Elsie Area Food Pantry, which serves 400 families—more than 1,200 individuals—throughout the community.
- Project Connect Back-to-School Drive: Employees donated 125 pairs of children’s underwear to help local families prepare for the new school year.
- Annual Food Fight Food Drive: In its fourth year, this friendly staff competition leading up to the U-M vs. MSU football game brought in even more donations for Clinton County food pantries.
“These efforts reflect who we are,” said MaLissa Schutt, Executive Director of Clinton Transit. “We are grateful for the trust the community places in us. While these charitable efforts are entirely employee-led and supported through personal donations, we take our responsibility as stewards of taxpayer dollars seriously in every aspect of our work. Giving back is our way of saying thank you for believing in us.”
Even with a small staff, their generosity reaches homes across the county, quietly easing burdens and brightening celebrations. Clinton Transit’s role in these moments remains intentionally humble; staff often refer to themselves as the “silent family member” who simply ensures the holiday is wonderful and worry-free.
While the Blue Bus continues to deliver safe, reliable, and accessible transportation year-round, these acts of kindness reflect Clinton Transit’s core values in action. Every gift, every meal, and every donation underscores a core truth: transportation is what they do—but community is who they are.
As the season of giving continues, Clinton Transit encourages residents to support local partners and nonprofits that help keep neighbors connected, cared for, and uplifted—during the holidays and throughout the year.
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For more information, please contact King Media at 517.333.2048.
About Clinton Transit
Clinton Transit’s curb-to-curb service ensures residents stay connected—no matter their challenges, disabilities, or circumstances. Committed to providing safe and accessible transportation for all of Clinton County, the “Blue Bus” operates as a demand response system, running only when a ride is requested. Learn more at mybluebus.com.
