Dear Editor:
The Hoboken High School Redwing Football season is over. What many people may not know is that in order for our home team to play, an ambulance was required at every game. In fact, it is the hosting school’s responsibility to have an ambulance on the scene for the duration of the game or forfeit that game.
In the past Hoboken High School has used other ambulance companies to provide this service at a cost of $300 per game to be paid immediately following the completion of each game. The past two seasons the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps has proudly provided this service and had been informed that a donation of $150 per game would be given. Half the cost of what was being given to other non-home town ambulance services. All concerned thought this was a win/win situation. The Board of Education and taxpayers would save money, and we would receive a much-needed donation to continue to provide free medical assistance and transportation needs to our residents. The football season is now over, and we have yet to see the agreed-upon donation.
As Captain of the Ambulance Corps it was brought to my attention that a comment had been passed as to "why should we pay them, they are volunteers and should provide the service for free?" I understand this is hearsay, but the season is well over and we have yet to receive the agreed upon donation from the Hoboken Board of Education or hear from Athletic Director Moe DeGennaro in reference to when the donation would be given, thus disproving that comment I feel it necessary to address this whether hearsay or not.
True we are a volunteer organization, in fact the only all volunteer ambulance service left in Hudson County, and we would like to keep it that way. Unfortunately, the businesses we rely on to provide maintenance for our rigs, medical supplies and everyday costs of keeping us up and running are not. It costs approximately $180,000 a year to keep us in service. We answer approximately 5,000 calls a year in our "mile square city." We have no payroll cost because all our members volunteer their time and hearts to give something back to the community. Although we receive a small stipend from the city, the majority of our funds come from our residents, through fund drives and fundraisers.
With that in mind I have a few questions for you. 1. Why is that the residents of Hoboken have no problems donating to our organization, even though they don’t have the budget the Board of Education has? 2. Why are you so willing to give another ambulance company twice as much money to provide the same service, when you could be helping support a local organization that is such a vital part of our community?
In conclusion I would like to say thank you to all the residents who have supported us in the past, present and hopefully future. Maybe Mr. DeGennaro and the Board of Education members should go back to the school they represent and take a lesson in kindness and community support from all the taxpaying residents who rely on us to help them in their time of need.
As our motto says, "We’ll be There, We Care."
Captain Scott Whalen
Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps