We value our nonprofit partners.
The many ways we all work together and support each other are one of the hallmarks that makes our region stronger.
COAST connects individuals seeking services, via our public transit network, to the Greater Seacoast nonprofit community. It is a role we are very proud to play as we strive to provide access for everyone to opportunity.
“COAST is one of Gather's most important partners, providing transportation to our pantry for nearly 150 families each month and offering free bus passes for our unhoused clients. When Gather built its new Community Food Center on Heritage Avenue, there wasn't a COAST bus stop nearby. We immediately reached out and COAST worked with us to add 4 stops each day right outside our door, so seniors and families wouldn't have to carry their heavy groceries out to the road or even further, down to the existing stop on Lafayette Road. It wasn't convenient for COAST to add a stop, but they understand the importance of having this transportation for people in need in the community. That is real partnership!”
Anne Hayes, Executive Director
“The role the COAST plays in the lives of our residents here at Cross Roads House is essential and quite literally life sustaining. COAST provides so much more than a bus ride; it provides access to earning, learning, healing, nourishment in all forms. COAST is a steady, too often overlooked, resource that links so many throughout the region to the very things they need to survive and thrive.”
Anna Kay Vorsteg, Chief Executive Officer
“COAST transportation services are vital to ensuring that domestic and sexual violence survivors can access programs at our two HAVEN office locations and shelter. Many people leaving abusive relationships arrive at shelter without a vehicle. Individuals in our housing program often rely on COAST to get to and from work. Having access to reliable transportation helps so many of our clients get to appointments and grocery shopping and we are so grateful for the role COAST plays in helping survivors overcome one of the biggest barriers to successfully living on their own.”
Kathy Beebe, Executive Director
“We depend on COAST as a key partner in helping to provide our clients across many different programs, the ability to access vital resources and everyday needs that many take for granted. We cannot express enough gratitude for the free ticket program from COAST, that has allowed us to give dignity, independence, and even access to basic health care to those in our community when needed.”
Jocelyn Caple, MD, MBA,
Chief Executive Officer
“COAST is such a wonderful resource for our community. Reliable transportation helps families get their children to child care each day so parents can get to work with peace of mind. It also helps child care providers, teachers, and staff travel to their jobs, keeping programs running smoothly for the families who rely on them. We are so grateful for the role COAST plays in connecting people to the places and opportunities that help our community thrive.”
Cora Hoppe, Executive Director
“Being located on the COAST bus route is an absolute priority for Dover Adult Learning Center. Most of our students are living in low-income families. The bus is either their primary source of transportation or a backup when their car breaks down or their regular ride falls through. Affordable, reliable transportation is a crucial part of the network of supports that allow adult learners to get to school and gain the skills they need to further their education and/or enter family sustaining employment.”
Deanna Strand, Executive Director
“At PHA, many residents lack reliable transportation. The COAST system enables them to access essential community resources—such as Gather and Families First—while supporting their independence. In addition, numerous residents rely on COAST to participate in off-site programs, including our Better Balance course, Community Dinners, and Rock the Crock. We consistently see that increased community supports, leads to meaningful improvements in residents’ overall wellbeing.”
Olivia Harris, M.Ed.,
Director of Resident Services
“At Cornerstone VNA, we deeply value and strongly support COAST transportation services. We see firsthand the critical role public transportation plays in the health and well-being of our community. Each year, Cornerstone VNA serves thousands of individuals facing both chronic and short-term health challenges. Reliable transportation is a lifeline for many of our patients enabling them to attend medical appointments, access essential medications, and purchase groceries. For those who are elderly, disabled, or without a vehicle, COAST is often the only means of transportation they have. Public transportation is not just about mobility, it’s about equity, access and public health. COAST directly contributes to a healthier, more connected and more vibrant community. Without it, many of our neighbors would go without necessary care, putting further strain on hospital emergency rooms and leading to preventable health crises. The ripple effects would also be felt across our local economy, from fewer shoppers at local stores to reduced workforce participation. Transportation is a basic need, and COAST helps ensure that need is met for the most vulnerable in our region. We urge continued investment in and expansion of COAST’s services.”
Jennifer Ufkin, RN MSN BC-NC,
President/CEO
“At Great Bay Community College, many of our students rely on COAST as their only means of getting to classes. For others, COAST is the backup plan when their personal transportation breaks down. COAST’s reliability and affordability are important. Many of our students are dependent on financial aid and other financial support in order to attend college. They have many responsibilities beyond the classroom such as work, and they may be taking care of parents, children or other family. Having the ability to ride for free with their GBCC ID takes pressure off of their financial obligations. I don’t want to imagine that there is a world without access to public transportation. Our students, who face so many challenges, need a reliable and viable transportation option so they can, quite literally, reach their educational and career goals.”
Dr. Cheryl Lesser, President
““My adult son, who is in a power wheelchair and depends on transportation with lift systems, has been using the COAST bus and Paratransit service since he was in high school. He now lives in an apartment in downtown Dover and uses the Paratransit buses to get to work in Somersworth. Public transportation has made a huge difference in my son’s life. It means that he can get from place to place without having to hire a driver or being dependent on his aging parents to drive him. Paratransit is especially helpful in the winter when the sidewalks are poorly plowed and there is no safe way to get to a regular bus stop in a power chair. Being able to work helps his self-esteem and keeps him active and social, which are all very important ingredients for a healthy and happy life.”
Laurie McIntosh, Board Chair