Valley Metro in Phoenix is contributing this "gingerbread" bus as a collection site for donations to its Teens in Need Holiday Drive. All items collected in the bus will be donated to a nonprofit youth center and the agency will match every donation with an all-day transit pass in support of other youth services. Valley Metro is partnering with Tempe Marketplace to host this program. "The collection drive is our way of extending our appreciation to riders and the communities we serve," said Valley Metro CEO Steve Banta.	Omnitrans, San Bernardino, CA, filled a bus with new, unwrapped toys for underserved children in the community, donated by area residents and businesses through the Spark of Love Toy Drive. The agency held the Dec. 6 event in partnership with California Firefighters and a local television station.
For the 23rd year, Santa Claus arrived in Philadelphia via the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Santa boarded the Market-Frankford Line at the Frankford Transportation Center and traveled to 11th Street Station, after which he led hundreds of children to The Gallery at Market East shopping mall.	The Port Authority of Allegheny County, along with the U.S. Marine Corps and a radio station, collected new, unwrapped toys and cash donations for Toys for Tots the morning of Dec. 13 at the Steel Plaza T Station in downtown Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati Metro riders who arrived at Government Square Dec. 4 between 3 and 4 p.m. received an early Christmas present when Metro employees and Bicycle Santa gave out free single-ride Metro tickets. This gesture is one way the agency thanks its customers for riding its buses all year long.	The North County Transit District, Oceanside, CA, brought Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch on board a full Coaster commuter train Dec. 7 for the annual Holiday Express event. Approximately 700 children and their families took the 90-minute ride, which departed from the Oceanside Transit Center.