New bus rolls in for Boys & Girls Club

Dave Thomas sits in the driver's seat of the Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson City's newest acquisition, a new-to-them school bus, painted white with blue accents, prominently featuring the club's logo. Thomas has driven for the club for two years and explained the joy he gets from hauling the students. Their old, smaller bus gave out, and they needed a larger one. BGC Executive Director Stephanie Johnson, said this would help with student's ability to access the activities the club provides for local children.
Dave Thomas sits in the driver's seat of the Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson City's newest acquisition, a new-to-them school bus, painted white with blue accents, prominently featuring the club's logo. Thomas has driven for the club for two years and explained the joy he gets from hauling the students. Their old, smaller bus gave out, and they needed a larger one. BGC Executive Director Stephanie Johnson, said this would help with student's ability to access the activities the club provides for local children.

The Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City has a new 72-passenger bus to replace its fuchsia-painted bus that gave out over the summer, and the new rig comes just in time for the organization's building expansion and plans to serve more students.

The engine in the 2004 school bus was rebuilt by Scheppers International Truck Center. Riley Auto Group gave it a fresh coat of white paint, and Bee Seen Signs put the Boys & Girls Club logo on the vehicle. Industrial Warehouse & Distribution Group is providing a secure place to park the bus overnight and during the day.

Board member Jim Vossen organized most of the effort, approaching businesses to donate their services, so the bus was lovingly named "Jimbo" after him. Scheppers does maintenance for First Student bus transportation company, and they purchased the bus from School of the Osage.

The club couldn't afford to purchase a bus on its own, Vossen said. The effort wouldn't have been possible without help from the local businesses, he said. The three bus sponsors are printed on the side of the bus.

Stephanie Johnson, executive director for the local Boys & Girls Club, said when their pink bus broke down, the club scrambled to figure out a plan - the bus is one of the club's main modes of transportation for students.

"I know for many organizations this isn't a big deal, but for the Boys & Girls Club, this is an incredible gift," she said.

Once the club moves into its new 18,000-square-foot building in April, the bus will become an even bigger necessity with the higher volume of students expected. The new building will have a 350-student capacity and serve nine schools in the Jefferson City Schools District.

Elementary students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program can participate in the club's activities for free, and all students in sixth grade or older can also participate for free. Johnson said 90 percent of the club's students participate at no cost.