Bridging the Gap: A Holiday Gift of Transportation for Our Community

​ As I sit here reflecting on this past year, with twinkling lights beginning to glow and the scent of the season in the air, one thing is crystal clear: in our community, people show up for each other in ways that truly matter. At The River Center, I see families every day doing their best to keep life moving forward, even when the road feels impossible. And one of the biggest barriers we hear about, repeatedly, is transportation.

Transportation in the Eastern Monadnock Region is Challenging

Getting to a doctor’s appointment, a job, school, or even the grocery store can be a real challenge here. While our region has several transportation services: Community Care of Peterborough, Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services (including the Friendly Bus), City Express Medical Transport, CVTC, and the “Keep New Hampshire Moving” online directory, and others, these programs are stretched thin. There are always more people in need than rides available.

​This season of giving, something truly special has arrived. We were approached by Sween Fleetz, a local transportation company owned by Edward Sweeney, who also runs the food-delivery service SweenEats. Ed came to us with a simple goal: to help people get where they need to go, no matter their circumstances.

Ed’s commitment comes from experience, and from his faith. In 2022, during the COVID lockdowns, his family was homebound for several days with very little food. That experience inspired him to start SweenEats and eventually expand into transportation services, recognizing that so many people in our community were stuck, literally and figuratively.​

A New Community Partnership Benefitting Individuals and Families is Born

When rising fuel costs forced Ed to raise his fares by just $5, he lost riders, not because they were angry, but because they simply couldn’t afford it. That moment sparked a question in his heart: How can I help those who truly need rides, regardless of their ability to pay?​

The answer came in a deeply personal way. One early morning, around 3 a.m., Ed awoke with a sudden, overwhelming sense that he was being called to action. What he believes was a divine intervention. Ideas flooded his mind, and he felt a clear direction: to create a program that would ensure people could get where they needed to go.

​From that moment, the P22 Initiative was born, named after Proverbs 22:2: “Rich and poor have a common bond: the Lord is the maker of them all.” Through this program, community members can donate via the SweenZapp app. Donations are converted into transportation vouchers, which The River Center distributes to residents for essential travel, medical appointments, funerals, and other critical needs.

​The River Center coordinates with Sween Fleetz to schedule rides, monitoring calls, and determining eligibility. While we cannot accommodate same-day or emergency rides due to staffing limits and same day ride availability, this program allows us to help people plan and access transportation for the moments necessary travel.

More Than a Ride: Supporting Connection and Hope in our Community

​While contributions to Sween Fleetz for the P22 Initiative are not tax-deductible, they have an immediate impact by helping community members access essential transportation. I just want to add a disclaimer that If what you are looking for is a tax deduction, especially this time of year, you can always donate directly to The River Center, these contributions remain critical for supporting the full range of programs and services that help families thrive.

During this season of giving, seeing programs like this take root reminds me why I do this work. It’s not just about rides or services, it’s about hope, connection, and the dignity of making sure no one must stay stuck.​

As we gather with friends and family, and as lights and music fill our homes and hearts, I am grateful for partnerships like this one, for people like Ed, and for a community that continues to show up, spreading warmth, care, and joy to everyone, even when the road is long. This holiday season, let us remember that giving comes in many forms, and sometimes the simplest act, a ride, a helping hand, is the greatest gift of all. Wishing You a Season of Peace and Blessings from the River Center.

Author

Odette Butler is the Executive Director of The River Center: A Family and Community Resource Center in Peterborough, supporting area families through parenting support, tax assistance, and community connections.