HOWELL – Elementary students sent heartwarming messages to the Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad No. 1 by making creative thank you cards.
“This evening the membership gathered together for our monthly drill meeting. As the meeting was called to order, we were presented with a very special gift,” Vice President Billy Mandelkow wrote in a Facebook post.
Students from the Newbury Elementary School had made thank you cards for the Squad’s dedication and service during the ongoing COVID pandemic.
“The students wrote thank you, drew us pictures and some even told us that they want to be like us when they grow up,” Mandelkow wrote.
The Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad No. 1 is a non-profit organization that is comprised of volunteer members and have been serving the community since 1957. With the volunteers consisting of emergency medical technicians and drivers, their job is to answer a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls.
Mandelkow expressed how special each thank you card was and what joy it brought to the Squad.
“As I looked around the meeting floor while our membership was reading these cards, the smiles grew bigger and bigger with every card that was opened,” Mandelkow said. “In EMS, we don’t hear thank you very often. Especially right now, during these hard times, EMTs/EMS/Medics sometimes get forgotten about when the ambulance leaves. These cards certainly hit home with all of our membership and it was something that we all needed. We do not do this for the thanks nor for the glory. We do this for all the young children who are striving to make a difference and who want to grow up and help someone. We do this for all of our township residents and visitors so they know that if they need us, we will be there at a moment’s notice. In the world of EMS, most days are dark as made up with people who are injured or having a medical emergency. But, small gestures like this certainly bring everything back in perspective, bring a smile to our faces and remind all of us why we do this.”
Mandelkow finished his statement by thanking the students and staff for their generous support and the wonderful gift.
“This will always go down as a memorable moment for us and won’t be forgotten,” Mandelkow said.
To learn more about the Howell First Aid and Rescue No. 1, visit htfars.org.
