Answering the Call

A long time Summit resident, Helen E. Winberry was a quiet woman who lived a solitary life. Upon her recent passing, she left in her Will a substantial monetary gift to the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad. I am the president of the SVFAS and, to my knowledge, no one on the Squad personally knew Helen Winberry.  Apparently that did not matter to Miss Winberry.

In many ways, Miss Winberry’s gift is emblematic of the Squad’s Summit members whose volunteer service as your emergency medical responders is largely unknown to Summit residents. 

The Squad’s services to Summit are not measured in dollars, but rather in the time and assistance provided to the community, responding to emergency calls, every hour of every day and every year for the past fifty years.   Sacrificing time with our families is what we do so that we can be there for your families.  Prepared by hundreds of hours of training, we respond to the emergencies and crises that help those in need and keep our community safe. 

Like the Squad, Helen Winberry’s gift appeared in a moment of great need.  Recently,  we have embarked on our first capital campaign to replace the fifty-year old facility on Elm Street.  The building is outmoded and too small to garage modern ambulances; provide required decontamination facilities essential for our volunteers; and shelter Squad members on overnight shifts during weather crisis events and other community emergencies. 

Funded entirely by donations and staffed only by volunteers, the Squad urgently needs a new facility to continue to serve Summit, and the only way forward was a community-driven capital campaign. 

Thanks to the leadership of former mayor Jordan Glatt, and president of the Other Fellow First Foundation Brett Haire, more than $4 million of our $5 million goal has been raised from generous Summit community leaders, friends and neighbors.  Now the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad needs your help to raise the final $1 million, and we ask you to respond as generously as possible to this campaign for our new building, ensuring Summit’s 21st Century emergency services for decades to come.  For more information about our capital campaign, and how you can contribute, please visit our website at www.summitems.org.

Thank you and stay safe,

John Christmann

SVFAS President