Officials decry low response to squad's call for donations
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

FREEHOLD - The Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad is calling on residents for help.

In recent months, members of the squad have appeared at Borough Council meetings to report that the unit's volunteer membership numbers were on a serious decline, condition that concerned them very much. While the squad has now managed to sign up and train several new members, its financial operation is on shaky ground.

The has 30-plus active members who respond to more than 3,700 calls for help each year in Freehold Borough and Freehold Township. The combined population of the two towns is about 50,000 people.

The organization's annual fund drive which began in June has so far yielded $96,609, a far cry from the anticipated goal of $200,000, according to trustee Bill Madden, who spoke at the council's Sept. 4 meeting at Borough Hall.

Madden, who has been a member of the squad since 1957, said the fund drive has yielded a 14.5 percent response rate (2,263 donations). He said Freehold Borough and Freehold Township are about equal in their donations so far. As far as businesses go, the squad has received a 9 percent response rate, or 59 donations out of 649 businesses in both municipalities.

Madden cited total donations from previous years, including 2000, when the fund drive yielded $124,080 by this time, and 2001, which yielded $130,910. Donations saw a jump after Sept. 11, 2001 and yielded $140,177 in 2002. Each year donation totals at this time of year have consistently dropped. This year, the donations have dropped 8.5 percent below last year's total of $118,603.

"We came here to ask you to help us get the word out to the public," Madden said. "For some reason, first aid does not seem to be a priority concern."

He said he wants residents to know that members of the first aid squad are now emergency medical technicians.

"We need to let people know who we are and what we do," he added.

Mayor Michael Wilson asked Councilman Jaye Sims to contact the Community Public Information Committee to seek its input as to how the first aid squad may be able to reach out to residents.

Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer said there are many ways to donate to the squad. For example, she said that rather than having favors made for her daughter's wedding, her family decided to donate that money to the first aid squad. She called the response to the first aid squad's fund drive "appalling."

"We're aware of the first aid squad when we need their help," Councilman Michael DiBenedetto said. "Now they are in need and they need others to help them.

Councilman Robert Crawford said the response for donations was "horrid."

"Considering the population of both towns, if each person just gave $10, that would total $450,000," he said. "And the businesses should be ashamed of themselves."

Donations may be sent at any time to the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, 18 Spring Street, Freehold 07728.