Community comes to the rescue with ambulance fund-raising

RANDOLPH — The Randolph Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department is experiencing a role reversal.

This time, it’s the community coming to the rescue with more than $38,000 raised for the purchase of a new ambulance.

Last week, the department accepted a $25,000 donation from Randolph Farm Supply.

“That’s the largest I’ve ever seen,” said Rescue Chief Tony Backer.

Fundraising for the $270,000 ambulance kicked off with a rib cook-off event in August where nearly $8,000 was raised. The event featured live music and other entertainment throughout the day.

Reaching Out Around Randolph (ROAR) donated all of the proceeds from the beer garden at the event. Meat and other supplies necessary to host the event were donated by businesses in town, Backer said.

“It was great support all the way around,” he said.

Backer said he hopes to get the ambulance ordered soon because the wait time for the fullydecked out unit takes at least 18 months. The plan is to finance whatever isn’t covered by fundraising.

The current primary ambulance used now was purchased new 10 years ago and the secondary ambulance is a used model of the same year - 2011.

Backer said it’s important to stay up to date with new safety features and equipment, and it’s exciting to have the community’s support with its fundraising efforts.

“We are probably one of the best equipped volunteer departments in northeast Nebraska and we take pride in that,” Backer said.

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