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The events of 9/11 sparked within me a need to give back to my community. At that time, I felt that the best way to do so was to join the Ardsley-Secor Volunteer Ambulance Corps (ASVAC). After a few months of riding ambulance calls, the captain asked whether I would be interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT). Once I became an EMT and engaged in hands-on patient care, I discovered the awesome feeling that comes from helping others and felt the desire to do even more.
Inspired by longtime dedicated ASVAC members, I began to serve on committees and helped with fundraising drives, the design of a new ambulance, and, most importantly, improving communication between the residents of Ardsley and ASVAC. I was elected second lieutenant, then first lieutenant, and eventually became captain. Through taking on more responsibilities at ASVAC, I saw that I could give even more to the community.
My family noticed the positive energy that I derived from ASVAC and wanted to join in. We began by volunteering for the Midnight Run in Dobbs Ferry to distribute clothes, personal items, and food to the homeless in New York City. We then volunteered at a battered women’s shelter, where I barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers, while my daughters played with the children at the shelter and my wife provided a caring ear for the women. We also volunteered with Operation Cookie Drop in Ardsley, which collects unsold and donated Girl Scout cookies to send to military servicemen stationed overseas. My wife and daughters helped with the sorting and stacking of the boxes, and I took pictures of the entire process. Later, I learned that the military started using my pictures to promote Operation Cookie Drop nationally.
Through my various volunteering efforts, I met other residents of the Rivertowns who felt, as I did, the need to “pay it forward.” A number mentioned that there was no source for information about where to volunteer or even for events that were happening right in their neighborhoods. This got me thinking . . .
