By Daniel L. Bamberg
Many people in the southern portion of Bibb County are familiar with the name, South Bibb Rescue. This volunteer rescue group appears at every call in the area, and even many in surrounding areas. What many may not know is that the group is in desperate need of volunteers.
In fact SBR is on the verge of going under according to members, EMT Gail Hughes, Chief Steven Stano, April Stano, Ryan Thompson, Ed Pendley and Chris O’Neil.
“We do not receive the funding that Volunteer Fire Departments get because we are not recognized unless we are incorporated with a VFD,” explained Hughes. “If we do not increase our membership we will be forced to shut down.”
If SBR increases their amount of volunteers they can become eligible for funding. This would give them better supplies, and would also allow members to rotate calls.
South Bibb Rescue has been surviving over the years mostly from donations according to their members. “Some of the money we need for gas and maintenance comes out of our own pockets,” stated Hughes.
The Volunteer Rescue Squad which on many occasions, have been first responders to accidents, is a 6-member team. Each of the members hold full time jobs and do their work with SBR as a commitment to community.
“I have lived in bigger areas and have worked as a medic in larger cities,” stressed Hughes. “There is something missing in major cities that exists greatly in communities like this small county. Community is an afterthought in so many places. Here it is a way of life and that is why we do this. We do not do this for money; obviously volunteer work doesn’t pay anything. We do this because we care for the community and believe in the importance of doing our part.”
According to Hughes, in times when SBR was in desperate need some in the community have offered help and donations. Hughes also explained that others have expressed that SBR seemed to be unnecessary with so many VFD around.
“They say we are unnecessary without regard that when they need us we are there,” Hughes stated. SBR has held fund raising efforts in the past, but with such a skeleton crew it is hard to focus on raising money when the goal is to lend rescue response to a community.
The members are qualified and certified in first response treatment, though as a volunteer independent Rescue Squad it is not mandatory to be certified.
“We keep our training current, because we believe it is of serious importance to the citizens of Bibb County,” said Hughes. “There are a great deal of rewards in volunteer work none of which are monetary but all of which are good for the soul,” she concluded.
South Bibb Rescue is a non-profit organization. Members are volunteers and assist citizens of southern Bibb County with medical emergencies. Members must be at least 19 years old. To find out how you can help South Bibb Rescue through volunteerism or other means please call 205-926-6877.
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