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Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) is pleased to announce the “Stuff the Ambulance” Toy Drive. RCEMS will be partnering with several organizations to help provide toys for children in Rutherford County this holiday season. RCEMS will be working with United Way and DSS on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November 29 – December 15 to collect toys and stuff the ambulance in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Wal-Mart is partnering on the project as part of their corporate strategy to partner with local non profits to collect toys this Christmas. Hickory Nut Gorge EMS & Rescue will also be collecting toys in the Lake Lure area over this same time period to help aid in this initiative.
Roc-Anthony Smith, a paramedic with the Rutherford County EMS, had the idea for “Stuff the Ambulance”. He wanted to give back to the community and many of his fellow medics felt the same way and wanted to get involved.
“I think that as EMS providers, we often see people only at the worst times of their lives. With this project, it is a wonderful way for us to change that and bring happiness to the children of our county, who otherwise may not have toys this Christmas. Who doesn’t like to see kids smile?” stated paramedic, Roc-Anthony Smith, NREMT-P.
Once the idea started to take shape, RCEMS contacted DSS to see if they could help distribute toys that were collected. “We are very excited about this toy drive and the interest that these county employees have taken to help ensure that children have toys for Christmas. We will definitely be able to distribute them to families with children who are struggling to make ends meet and to children in foster care and kinship care.” stated John Carroll, MHDL – Director Rutherford County Department of Social Services.
United Way is also working with the Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer for distribution of toys collected. All toys “stuffed in the ambulance” will stay in Rutherford County. For citizens interested in helping with this initiative, RCEMS and Untied Way will be in the Wal-Mart parking lot every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting November 29th. Times are as follows: Fridays: 4-8 PM, Saturdays: 9AM – 5 PM, Sundays: 12-5 PM. Citizens can also drop off toys at the RCEMS station in Spindale off Withrow Road.
Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services has been a county run department since 1973. There are EMS stations in Spindale, Hickory Nut Gorge, Bostic, and the Cliffside Fire Department. RCEMS has 40 full time medics and approximately 20 part time medics.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kerry Giles, Transportation Services Director, 828.288.4505, kerry.giles@rutherfordcountync.gov
