Letter: Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad Begins Fund Drive

The announces the start of its annual fund drive. The squad, now in its 62nd year of providing emergency medical services to the community of Westfield is once again reaching out to residents for financial support.

According to squad captain Jonathan Delano, the squad has had an increase in operational demands. These demands include the increasing expense of running an ambulance service that provides EMS coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, the recruitment and training of new volunteer EMTs is becoming costlier and more difficult.

Delano explains, “We don’t bill for our service like many other EMS providers and we can only continue to do what we do as long as the residents support us”. Reid Edles, squad president, adds “the residents have been very generous in the past with their support, but we now again have to ask for their support again.”

Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky announced the start of the squad’s annual fund drive at the February 28th town council meeting. At the meeting, Skibitsky presented squad members with a proclamation that declared March 2012 as “Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad Month.” The proclamation made note of the squad’s 29,000 hours of volunteer service that members provided to respond to over 2400 emergency medical calls in 2011. Squad members on hand to receive the proclamation from the mayor were Delano, Susan Lagano, vice-president and Dan Sullivan, treasurer. Lagano, the fund drive director, says Westfield residents and businesses can expect a fund drive letter in the coming weeks.

The squad, which is located at 335 Watterson Street, is currently looking for new members. To learn more about the squad, its mission or becoming a new volunteer member, call 908-233-2500.