The Chatham Emergency Squad is Assisted by 3 Women Owned Businesses

When the Equipment Manager at the Chatham Emergency Squad, Inc. realized the benefits of a new lifting and carrying device generically referred to as medical sleds, her first thought was how to pay for them. The Chatham Emergency Squad is an all -volunteer organization which funds 95% of its budget through donations. The fund-raising campaign and financial plan for 2017 were already well defined with no room in the budget for these transport devices. The need was real though for moving non-ambulatory individuals down a stairwell in order to exit a multi-floor building. Another funding option was to apply for a special grant, so the Squad applied for a grant being awarded by a local organization. When the Squad was unsuccessful in obtaining the grant, one woman, a Chatham business owner on the board of the local organization, was moved by the seriousness of the request and decided to take matters into her own hands. She decided to make her own donation and to enlist other Chatham women owned businesses to fund the new transport devices. Three women owned businesses stepped up.

Each of these creative businesses are Chatham based and involved in giving back to the community. Tracey Tango and her daughters Grace Amend and Hope Amend own ART with Heart Designs, LLC, a personalized art business. Joy Ribbons is a purveyor of custom hair bows owned by Rory Chazen and Mary Shuster. And Philla Barkhorn owns Philla Barkhorn Fine Art, a fine arts portraits and lessons studio. These women not only want to give to the community, they hope to inspire other Chatham businesses to follow their example. The women encouraged the Squad members to continue applying for grants and to be specific in their appeal to the community as to what equipment and services the Squad needs to do its job.

Pictured here are Tim Brown, Vice President- Chatham Emergency Squad, Tracey Tango, one of the new Sked Stretchers, Mary Shuster and Rory Chazen. To learn more information, to volunteer or to donate to the Chatham Emergency Squad visit Chathamemergencysquad.org.