The Key Peninsula, an isolated, rural community in Western Washington, was left without public transportation after Pierce Transit cut its routes in 2011 due to budget shortfalls. That left many residents, like the film's protagonist Donna, cut off from their link to the nearby park and ride, where they could connect to a city bus. The Mustard Seed Project, a local grass-roots nonprofit focused on aging in place for seniors, came up with a solution: a partnership with the school district to use school buses for public transportation once a week. The buses would otherwise travel empty for more than 20 miles after dropping off kids at school.