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Freehold aid squad asking for support
Unit may set record with 4,000 calls for service in 2008
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - When you need it, it's always there - no matter what - the Freehold FirstAid and Emergency Squad.
Members of the squad who are on call to help those in need of medical care are in need of a little help themselves these days in order to keep the volunteer organization going strong. The squad's officers said that for 6 cents a day, residents in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township can pretty much cover the squad's annual budget.
Running the squad takes manpower, to be sure, and new members are always being sought, but it also takes money to pay for all of the equipment and supplies necessary to have the squad prepared to serve the community.
Individuals who receive services from the first aid squad are not billed for those services.
This year the squad is also in need of two new rigs, according to Bill Madden, trustee.Madden has been an active member of the organization for 55 years.
Madden said that due to an increase in the number of calls - which he said may set a record at more than 4,000 this year - the wear and tear on the squad's equipment is apparent and must be replaced. An ambulance costs about $150,000.
"In the first three months of this year we made over 1,000 calls," Madden said. "This year's fundraiser is very important and we must meet these goals."
June is the month when the squad traditionally sends out mail appeals in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township.
Madden said the return rate for last year's fundraising mailers was about 23 percent.
"We are hoping that residents hear our appeal and donate to the first aid squad," he said.
Squad member JimMcAllister, who cochairs the fundraising campaign with Madden, said, "In order for us to continue to provide quality, responsive and reliable care, we need a continuing influx of funds. In addition, this is a free service; in other words, patients will not be billed for our response, our professional first aid administration, nor the transport to the hospital."
According toMcAllister, the squad's operating expenses for 2006 came to $296,300. In 2007 the operating expenses were $326,800. Contributions are significantly down from last year, according to Mc Allister. The squad's fundraising drive produced $153,000 in donations in 2006 and $144,000 in donations in 2007.
According to McAllister, corporate donations from the 500 businesses in both towns dropped by half to $4,300.
"It's really a matter of educating the public," he said.
In the 2007 fundraising campaign, 15,643 mailers were sent out asking for donations. According to McAllister, 3,274 mailers were returned. He said that between the two towns there was a 23 percent return in contributions.
"Break it down and a $21 donation from each address a letter was sent to would have covered our budget," he said.
Although theMonmouth County, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough governments all make a contribution to the first aid squad on an annual basis, the remaining funds must be derived from public donations.
According to Madden, Freehold Borough contributes $14,000 in funding and also provides free gas, free water, a building to house the first aid squad and workman's compensation. He said Freehold Township provided $35,000 and noted that Monmouth County also contributes annually.
Last year the volunteer squad responded to a total of 3,600 calls in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township, according to McAllister.
At the present time the squad has four ambulances, one rescue truck, one officer's vehicle and a first responder's vehicle. When an emergency call comes in, first aid volunteers go from their homes or wherever they may be to the squad headquarters on Spring Street in Freehold Borough or to the Freehold Township municipal building on Stillwells Corner Road to pick up the response vehicles and answer the call, according to Mc Allister.
Freehold aid squad asking for support
Unit may set record with 4,000 calls for service in 2008
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - When you need it, it's always there - no matter what - the Freehold FirstAid and Emergency Squad.
Members of the squad who are on call to help those in need of medical care are in need of a little help themselves these days in order to keep the volunteer organization going strong. The squad's officers said that for 6 cents a day, residents in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township can pretty much cover the squad's annual budget.
Running the squad takes manpower, to be sure, and new members are always being sought, but it also takes money to pay for all of the equipment and supplies necessary to have the squad prepared to serve the community.
Individuals who receive services from the first aid squad are not billed for those services.
This year the squad is also in need of two new rigs, according to Bill Madden, trustee.Madden has been an active member of the organization for 55 years.
Madden said that due to an increase in the number of calls - which he said may set a record at more than 4,000 this year - the wear and tear on the squad's equipment is apparent and must be replaced. An ambulance costs about $150,000.
"In the first three months of this year we made over 1,000 calls," Madden said. "This year's fundraiser is very important and we must meet these goals."
June is the month when the squad traditionally sends out mail appeals in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township.
Madden said the return rate for last year's fundraising mailers was about 23 percent.
"We are hoping that residents hear our appeal and donate to the first aid squad," he said.
Squad member JimMcAllister, who cochairs the fundraising campaign with Madden, said, "In order for us to continue to provide quality, responsive and reliable care, we need a continuing influx of funds. In addition, this is a free service; in other words, patients will not be billed for our response, our professional first aid administration, nor the transport to the hospital."
According toMcAllister, the squad's operating expenses for 2006 came to $296,300. In 2007 the operating expenses were $326,800. Contributions are significantly down from last year, according to Mc Allister. The squad's fundraising drive produced $153,000 in donations in 2006 and $144,000 in donations in 2007.
According to McAllister, corporate donations from the 500 businesses in both towns dropped by half to $4,300.
"It's really a matter of educating the public," he said.
In the 2007 fundraising campaign, 15,643 mailers were sent out asking for donations. According to McAllister, 3,274 mailers were returned. He said that between the two towns there was a 23 percent return in contributions.
"Break it down and a $21 donation from each address a letter was sent to would have covered our budget," he said.
Although theMonmouth County, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough governments all make a contribution to the first aid squad on an annual basis, the remaining funds must be derived from public donations.
According to Madden, Freehold Borough contributes $14,000 in funding and also provides free gas, free water, a building to house the first aid squad and workman's compensation. He said Freehold Township provided $35,000 and noted that Monmouth County also contributes annually.
Last year the volunteer squad responded to a total of 3,600 calls in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township, according to McAllister.
At the present time the squad has four ambulances, one rescue truck, one officer's vehicle and a first responder's vehicle. When an emergency call comes in, first aid volunteers go from their homes or wherever they may be to the squad headquarters on Spring Street in Freehold Borough or to the Freehold Township municipal building on Stillwells Corner Road to pick up the response vehicles and answer the call, according to Mc Allister.