West River Health Services Foundation, the fundraising and development arm for West River Health Services, developed an “Ambulance Appreciation Program” a few years back to recognize the selfless contribution of Ambulance personnel in eleven of our area communities. We hit the road and visited nearly 40 businesses in eleven area towns and asked if they’d consider supporting a gift to our local Ambulance personnel. Their response was overwhelming, with financial gifts, gift certificates, coupons and meal vouchers for all of our local Ambulance personnel. Because of their support over the years, we’ve been able to purchase and distribute EMS backpacks, t-shirts, stainless steel travel mugs, soup mugs, multi-tools, kids EMS activity books and more, to each of our area Ambulance Services and personnel. Covid may have sidetracked us for a few years, but we are back, continuing this terrific program once again.
Therefore, first off, we are asking all area citizens from Hettinger, Bowman, Mott, New England, Scranton, Regent, Reeder, Lemmon, Buffalo, McIntosh and Bison (plus everyone in between) to take a moment and say THANK YOU to an Ambulance Professional you might know. They provide an amazing and important service to our area communities. You never know when you or your neighbor might need their help. And thank goodness they’re willing to be trained and on call to help us whenever needed. They are truly local HEROES, much like our local fire and law enforcement personnel.
As a token of our gratitude this year, we will be sending “EMS, Rising To The Challenge” multi-purpose carryall bags to each Ambulance professional in our eleven area communities. These nifty bags include a large compartment for an IPad, plus zippered and netted areas to store other tech accessories or personal items. Within the carryall bag, we will also include an “EMS, Rising To The Challenge” post-it note pad and a 4-way charging cable with connectors for USB-A, micro, USB-C, and one compatible with IPhone. Plus, we will be placing advertising for National Ambulance Week, which is May 15-21 this year, with two insertions and this article in our local newspapers (Adams County Record, Eido, Bowman County Pioneer, New England Herald, Lemmon Dakota Herald, Bison Courier, Nation Center News, and the Corson/Sioux County News-Messenger). We want to remind our area citizens that our Ambulance Service personnel are vital to our area communities. And that they should be highly regarded and held in high esteem by all. After all, our communities need Ambulance assistance. Plus, we wanted to recognize our 33 businesses who have made this “Ambulance Appreciation Program” available.
So THANK YOU to the 187 Ambulance personnel in our eleven area communities. We are extremely grateful for all that you provide – your time, your knowledge, your commitment and your hustle. Without you and your efforts, many of our citizens would not be alive today.
And THANK YOU to the 33 businesses (see advertisement in this newspaper) who have supported this “Ambulance Appreciation Program” time and time again. This is a good investment. TOGETHER we are RISING TO THE CHALLENGE to remain, EMS STRONG! Onward!
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation