Waynesboro Medic 2 kicks off fund drive for Greencastle unit

November 02, 2000

Waynesboro Medic 2 kicks off fund drive for Greencastle unit

By STACEY DANZUSO / Staff Writer, Chambersburg

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Waynesboro Medic 2 kicked off a fund-raising campaign Thursday to raise $250,000 for a new emergency unit in Greencastle that could save lives by shaving valuable minutes of its response time.

Medic 2 responds to life-threatening injuries in the Waynesboro-Greencastle area. After determining that about 30 percent of its calls were in Greencastle, members began investigating the possibility of establishing a second medic unit there, said Debby DeWees.

Since July, Medic 2 has based one of its units out of the Greencastle Rescue Hose Company as part of a six month pilot program, said Kermit Hicks, co-chairman of the Celebration of Life capital campaign.

In that time, the unit has responded to more than 100 calls, he said. In at least two cases the quicker response made the difference between life and death.

In order to establish service from Greencastle on a permanent basis, $250,000 is necessary to purchase a new medic unit, equipment and personnel, Hicks said.

Medic 203, a subsidiary of Waynesboro's Medic 2, will continue to operate out of the Greencastle Rescue Hose Company on Pa. 11.

"The addition of Medic 203 is a major breakthrough in emergency medical services for the Greencastle area," said campaign co-chairman Robert "Red" Pensinger in a written statement.

"Working in conjunction with the Rescue Hose Company, Medic 203 will provide a professional and prompt service for life-threatening emergencies."

Dr. Bruce Foster, medical director of Medic 2, said in the statement that the Greencastle-Antrim community "has always been blessed with a caring population that rises to the occasion when the need occurs. We have already seen that spirit in the initial planning stages of our... campaign."

Hicks said he does not expect there to be a problem reaching the fund-raising goal.

So far, First National Bank of Greencastle has donated $25,000 and several anonymous donors have contributed more than $5,000, he sad.

Thursday's ceremony included a visit from Hershey Medical Center's Life Line helicopter and the display of other rescue equipment.

Hicks, Foster, Pensinger, Cathy Kimmel, president of the Medic 2 board, Ben Thomas, Medic 2 director and other Medic 2 personnel all made presentations at Thursday's kick-off event.

For more information on the Celebration of Life capital campaign, contact the Waynesboro Medic 2 business office at 717-762-1283.

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