Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
February and Valentine's Day are fast approaching, which means it’s nearly time to support our local first responders during the annual Giving Hearts Day.
Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour fundraising event for charities in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota, and for the third year running, the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR) is participating.
This year, Giving Hearts Day falls on Thursday, Feb. 10, and CASNR’s fundraising goal is simply to raise more money than last year, which according to CASNR manager Georgia Johnson is between $26,000 and $36,000. Funds will be put towards the necessary expenses that keep CASNR fully operational and capable of saving lives, such as training and equipment.
Additionally, the funds raised this year will help CASNR continue to pay ambulance workers $3 per hour while on call. Before the pandemic, volunteers wouldn’t be paid at all unless responding to an emergency, but thanks to COVID funding, CASNR was able to increase their pay to $3 per hour.
Now, even though COVID funding is no longer available, CASNR has elected to make the change permanent, a decision driven by the need for additional volunteers, according to Johnson.
“We’re having a tough time, just like everyone else, getting volunteers,” said Johnson. “So the board, at their last meeting, did agree to pay $3 an hour while on call ... Fessenden is having the same problem we are, and if they end up closing, we’re going to have to expand our region, so needless to say we need more volunteers.”
Of the 365 days that CASNR offers life-saving protection every year, they’re asking residents to set aside just one day to help them stay operational. Here’s a few ways residents can help this Giving Hearts Day.
• Write a check to Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford, postdate it for Feb. 10, 2022, and mail the check to PO Box 246, New Rockford, N.D. 59356.
• Go online to http://www.givingheartsday.org on Thursday, Feb. 10; click on the donate button and select Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford, then follow the instructions to make a donation.
• Can’t wait that long? Schedule a gift in advance. Donors can conveniently schedule online donations anytime before Giving Hearts Day. Scheduled donations will be processed for withdrawal on Feb. 10.
• Give the gift of time. CASNR is always in need of volunteers, whether it’s CPR drivers, EMR’s, EMT’s or more advanced medical providers. Training is available.
On Feb. 10, the community is also invited to attend a soup and breadstick lunch from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the community ambulance building, with to-go orders also available. A freewill offering will be taken for lunch and attendees can register to win door prizes, with all proceeds being added to the Giving Hearts Day event total.
Our local first responders work tirelessly to ensure their community’s well-being, and are often the last line of defense when an emergency, such as cardiac arrest, suddenly occurs. Giving Hearts Day is the community’s chance to show their appreciation, so be sure to follow the steps provided to help fund the very tools and equipment that are instrumental in saving lives.
Volunteers are always needed and appreciated at CASNR, and there’s more to do than just emergency response. If it suits your expertise better, CASNR could always use volunteers to help with office duties, supply room inventory, or serving for special events like Giving Hearts Day. To volunteer, give CASNR a call at (701) 947-2355, or email [email protected].
