North Conway, NH — September 21, 2026 — The Gibson Center for Senior Services has announced a $30,000 fundraising challenge to help purchase a new accessible bus for older adults throughout the Mount Washington Valley. To make a donation or learn more about the $30,000 Bus Challenge, visit https://www.gibsoncenter.org. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 655, North Conway, NH 03860. 

An anonymous donor has pledged $30,000 to the bus campaign if the community raises $30,000 in new private donations. The challenge means that every dollar contributed toward the next $30,000 will effectively become two dollars for the new bus. The cost of the bus is $123,000 and Gibson Center is also pursuing grant opportunities. 

“We are extremely grateful to this generous donor for stepping forward with this challenge,” said Gibson Center Executive Director David Smolen. “We have already seen tremendous support from our community, and this gives us an opportunity to double the impact of the next $30,000 in donations.”

Transportation is a necessity, not a luxury

The need for dependable transportation is particularly important in rural New Hampshire, where distances are greater and alternatives to personal vehicles are limited.

A transportation survey conducted by the Gibson Center in November 2025 illustrates just how important the service has become to the people who use it. Among survey respondents, 87% reported making six to 10 local trips each month using the Gibson Center bus, while another 13% reported making more than 10 trips per month. Sixty percent of respondents who answered the question said they rely on the Gibson Center bus for at least half of their local trips.

The survey also demonstrated the bus's impact on independence. Every respondent who answered the question reported that they get around more than they did before using the Gibson Center bus, and all respondents who answered the question said they would recommend the service to a friend.

The most frequently reported destinations made possible through the bus included doctors and other healthcare providers, shopping, social and recreational activities, the Gibson Center, and the Center's community lunch program.

The survey also underscores the vulnerability of many riders. Nearly nine out of 10 respondents reported living alone, while nearly one-third reported having a physical or mental health condition that makes it difficult to leave home alone to shop or visit a doctor's office.

Smolen added “Transportation allows people to remain independent. It gets someone to a doctor's appointment, the grocery store, lunch at the Gibson Center, or an activity with friends. Without transportation, people can become isolated very quickly.”

Help Gibson Center unlock the $30,000 challenge

Gibson Center has already raised $28,000 in private donations toward its fundraising effort. The organization is now seeking $30,000 in additional private donations to unlock the anonymous donor's $30,000 challenge gift.

“Our goal is simple,” Smolen said. “We need our community to help us raise $30,000 so that we can unlock another $30,000. Together, we can put a new, reliable and accessible bus on the road and keep older adults moving throughout our community.”