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I am writing as the voice of over 250 local employees who received notice today, just 2 weeks before Christmas, that they are no longer employed. These individuals are dedicated EMT's and Paramedics and were employed by a private ambulance company that has been serving Hampton Roads for over a decade. Over the years they have expanded operations to multiple states, all operating under different names, but with the same motto "The company that cares". Today, the employees received news that this company with multiple offices nationwide, numerous contracts with hospitals and patients, and employer of countless individuals throughout the Unites States has ceased operations permanently. These responders cared for patients in non-emergent and sometimes emergent situations. These Emergency Medical Technicians, Medics, and Paramedics dedicated their lives to the service of others. Many went into debt to pay for the education needed to obtain these certifications. They went through a rigorous classroom, clinical, and training process. First Med was full time employment for many EMT's and Medics, as well as a part time supplemental employment for many local firefighters. They all reported to work ready, willing, able to respond, whatever the situation may be. Most of the time, in the non-emergent world, calls are pretty routine. Giving an elderly person a ride to a medical appointment when they are bed bound and unable to walk or sit upright, taking a person in renal failure to dialysis by stretcher because they are a double amputee and have no other safe option for transport, picking someone up from the hospital who has been discharged home for hospice. And while these situations may not seem glamorous to most, they are invaluable to the patient who needs them. All calls are not routine however, some are full of the same adrenaline and excitement as you see on TV. When those emergent calls came these employees responded competently, confidently, and proudly doing what they were trained to do, all in the hopes of saving a life. Emergency Medicine is not a highly paid field. I doubt you will ever hear an EMT or Paramedic say they chose this career for the money. The truth is we chose it because we have a passion for it, we chose it because there is no greater purpose in the world than saving a life. Today, these employees were told that they would no longer have a paycheck, that their rent money would not be coming in, that they would not have the money they need to buy their children Christmas gifts, they were told to pack up, go home, and not come back. Many of these now jobless individuals are parents with children who don't understand what it means when a company goes belly up. As the holiday season is arriving, expectations in these young hearts are rising. For most children Christmas is the most joyous time of the year. They wait all year for that moment when they awake on the 25th, with wide eyes full of wonder when they see their gifts under the tree. However, without an income many of these people will not be able to provide for their child this Christmas. We need your help. We are asking that anyone is who able to, donate a new toy or gift card for a child of a First Med employee. We are in need of both boy and girl toys for every age group. We are also accepting monetary donations for anyone who can't make it out to purchase a toy. Any help that you can provide will give us a chance to make the children of these heroes happy and feel the true spirit of Christmas. Donations are being accepted until December 20th and will be delivered by Santa to the children on the nights of the 22nd and 23rd. If you have any questions please contact either Melisa Beavers or Sommer Chavez
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