ORU Grant Aids Ashford Rescue Squad’s Ambulance Fund
When you wreck your car or find yourself in distress, it’s reassuring to know help is on the way, and prepared to handle any emergency. In rural southeast Alabama, that help often comes from the Ashford Ambulance and Rescue Squad, rushing to your aid as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“For myself and many here, it’s not just a job. It’s personal,” says Jarrod Whitten, Ashford Ambulance’s chief of operations.
“Everyone in this community — we want to make sure they’re taken care of, that help is there for them if and when they need it.”
Covering the expanse from southeast of Dothan to the Georgia border, the squad often finds themselves as the first responders at crisis scenes. Meeting this demand with reliable vehicles and a devoted team of volunteers is essential, particularly as call volumes have doubled since 2019. This increase, largely attributed to a growing population in Houston County, seems to stem from an influx of retirees, drawn by the availability of comprehensive and diverse health care facilities in the region.
“In this line of work, every second counts,” says veteran volunteer Toye Watson. “It’s about getting to our neighbors quickly to offer medical assistance. To do that, we need ambulances equipped to give them quality life-saving care while we’re on the way to a hospital.” Currently, however, 2 of their ambulances are aging, and frequently sidelined for repairs.
Recognizing its critical role, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s (WEC) Operation Round Up Foundation stepped up, contributing $10,000 to the squad’s fund for a new ambulance.
“This community is filled with good people doing great work,” says Brad Kimbro, WEC chief operating officer. “Operation Round Up is funded by members who generously round up their bills every month. This money will stay in the Wiregrass, contributing to this vital and present need that makes their community a better and safer place to live.”
Securing funding has always been a challenging task, Whitten says. “Most people assume we have a sizable budget, but that’s not the case,” he says. “Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are usually below our operational costs, so we’re actually losing money every run. Over the last 49 years, we’ve received very limited support at the municipal level.”
Whitten elaborates that although they are working toward aligning state insurance reimbursements with the actual operational costs, it’s a slow process. This adjustment will help, but it won’t cover everything, like upgrading equipment.
“The delays in getting new ambulances can affect the response time in emergencies, sometimes making a life-and-death difference,” Whitten says. “Hence, donations from organizations like Wiregrass Electric’s Operation Round Up are significant for us. We depend on volunteers and the generosity of people and organizations who understand the importance of what we do every day. We’re truly grateful for their support — it makes a difference.”
The squad members are still working on raising the remainder of funds needed for a new ambulance and are confident that the community’s support will continue to grow.