Houston Healthcare's EMS Collects Record Number of Cans for Kids

Pictured are (l to r) Christina Grammer, EMT; Brenda Dale, EMT-P; David Borghelli, Director of Houston Healthcare's EMS; and Justin Morgan, EMT.

Houston Healthcare's Emergency Medical Services, with the support of Houston Healthcare employees, Gilbane Building Company, and local businesses and fire departments throughout Houston County, collected a total of 6,531 cans, finishing second place in the statewide Cans for Kids Campaign sponsored by the Region V Emergency Medical Services.

"Each year for one month, Houston Healthcare employees have a chance to make a difference in our community," says Brenda Dale, EMT-P, with Houston Healthcare's EMS. "Many employees within Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital as well as the Pavilion and the Med-Stops help with our drive by putting out boxes, collecting the cans, and keeping up with the numbers for us."

The first place winner for this year's Cans for Kids Campaign was Jasper County EMS, with more than 5,600 canned goods collected. Putnam County EMS won third place followed by the Medical Center of Central Georgia in fourth place.

According to Dale, the Cans for Kids Campaign divides the number of canned goods collected by each participating EMS group between the number of ambulances they have in service. "This allows smaller counties such as Jasper County EMS, which has two ambulances in service, an opportunity to win much needed life-saving equipment for their ambulance fleet. Houston Healthcare's EMS currently has nine ambulances in service," explains Dale.

Houston County's Cans for Kids Campaign has become a true community effort, she adds. "Several local businesses allowed us to place collection boxes at their locations this year. The fire departments in Houston County, Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville also helped collect cans as well as the Warner Robins Fire EMT Class sponsored by Central Georgia Technical College. Gilbane Building Company again collected a large number of cans for this year's campaign."

Venture Crew 346 sponsored by the American Red Cross packed the food boxes that were distributed to families and charitable organizations throughout Houston County, added Dale.