Central Texas Volunteers Help First Responders for Christmas

[rehablady]

Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit , Longhorn EMS

2008

2008 Nov 21

Central Texas Volunteers Prepare to Support Gulf Coast Responders

* Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit , Longhorn EMS

* 2008 Nov 21

AUSTIN, TX, November 21, 2008 – The Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit (VMERU) and Longhorn EMS is planning its most ambitious mission. The Unit is available to respond to support public safety entities at emergency incidents in Central Texas – in 2008 that included wildfires in Caldwell and Williamson Counties.

But the latest mission is over 200 miles from home. “When Hurricane Ike roared through the Galveston (Texas) area, it left a wake of destruction and uncertainty. We have seen the devastation on the Bolivar Peninsula. We saw two fire stations that had been destroyed. We knew we wanted to do something for the responders,” said VMERU Director Cheryl Lassiter.

“Operation Sandy Claus”

The project is being called “Operation Sandy Claus”. The Unit is collecting donations of Toys, Games, Christmas candy or cookies and gift cards to bring for the families of the responders – primarily the volunteers, during Christmas week.

Donations will be collected at the following locations:

*Caldwell County- Emergency Management Agency

1403 Blackjack Street (East 20th )

Lockhart, Texas 78644

*Bastrop County- Coffee Dog

1412 State Highway 71 W

Bastrop, TX 78602

*Travis County- Drive Through Postal

1712 E. Riverside Dr.# 267

Austin , Texas 78741

Checks may be sent to Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit, 1712 E. Riverside Dr.#267, Austin, TX 78741. To donate by credit or debit card – or for more information, interested persons may visit http://www.rehabsector.org.

What else is included in the “delivery” part of the mission depends on local needs and conditions and on the resources available. “While we are in the area, we'll pitch in and help with whatever is appropriate for us to do, Lassiter said. “This is not about 'us', she said. “It is about being there for the people who get up in the middle of the night to take care of their neighbors.”

This news article was recently in JEMS, EMS News Net Work and First Responder News Net Work.