Holmdel First Aid Squad responded to 629 tone-outs in the first half of 2009, which averages out to between three or four 911 calls per day. June saw 102 tone-outs that resulted in over 80 patients with medical conditions or injuries from MVAs being transported to area hospitals. The Squad had twice as many daytime calls than nighttime calls during the work week, but the calls were equally distributed throughout the weekends.

The Squad also changed its By-Laws in June so its line officer command falls into alignment with the current terminology used in NIMS/ICS structure. The HFAS Captain Levent Sasmazel is now the HFAS Chief, Lynn Davis is now HFAS Captain, Evelyn Puig and Bob Bliss are now First and Second Lieutenants, respectively. The rank of Third Lieutenant has been “retired”.

Fund Raising—The Bi-Annual Garage Sale

HFAS hosted a Garage Sale on where residents donated items to be sold with all the proceeds going to the Squad. Under the guidance of HFAS President Mike Nikolis the Squad started to collect and accept items from early spring through the week before the June 14th sale date. The donated items ultimately took over the Crawfords Corner Rd building as they were stacked wall-to-wall above head-height in all four bays and meeting rooms. In the days just before sale, squad members and volunteers moved the smaller items onto tables outside, set up furniture and exercise equipment, displayed housewares, hung stained glass light fixtures and built a huge wall display of TVs and electronics. An overflow of shoppers spent the day hunting through all the items finding that “got to have item” despite the constant threat of rain. The Squad also facilitated the shopping experience by accepting credit and debit cards. At the end of Sunday, most of the donated items had found new homes; those that did not, were accepted by local charities like Project Paul and Habitat for Humanity in the spirit in which they were originally given. Some of the smaller items that would not tolerate the rainy weather of that weekend will be listed on EBay with all those proceeds going to the HFAS.

HFAS Treasurer Maureen Dronne reported that the Garage Sale grossed over $13,000 as of June 30th . This resulted in a net of approximately $11,000 after expenses such as of tent and table rental, advertising and supplies. The Squad is going to use these funds to help pay for its new ambulance.

HFAS President Nikolis was very happy with the Garage Sale saying that, “It not only promoted the Squad within the Township but allowed residents to meet and talk with members without being in the midst of a medical emergency. The sale also showed how well all members, from the high school Explorers to life members, worked together to make the event a success.”