TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Local first responders are asking for the community’s help to provide clothes and other items to families in need across the Wabash Valley.
“This started out because I had a friend who worked for an ambulance service in another state who participated in a fill the truck event,” explains Brian Ketterer, EMS Coordinator at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute. “I did a single truck event a few years ago and it worked out fairly well. I thought it could work on a larger scale so I reached out to my fellow fire and EMS workers and we set this project up in 6 different counties here in the Wabash Valley.”
Ketterer joined Shelby and David Wednesday morning on WTWO Today at 6:30 a.m. to discuss the program and how the community can help.
Agencies are looking for items they can distribute to local food pantries and closets throughout the Wabash Valley. Those items include non-perishable food items, clothes, shoes and toys.
Ketterer explains, “Each Friday, we will be at different county in the Wabash Valley. We place the truck in the parking lot of a local business and invite people to come by and donate canned goods, food, toys, clothes, hats and gloves. All items must be new. The goal is by the end to completely fill the back of the ambulance. All the items are then donated to a local charity in that county chosen by the local ambulance service. We have total of 6 county’s every Friday in November and first two weeks of December. Vigo, Crawford, Greene, Sullivan, Clay and Parke counties.”
Organizers see growing need in the community
Organizers say, they are seeing an increase in need for assistance like this. “I believe that we are seeing a greater need than ever for programs like this and the need for people to step in and help. In Fire and EMS and in the hospital setting we see more and more people we encounter who could benefit from a helping hand not just treatment.”
The first responders will also be accepting cash donations. 100% of everything raised will go to charities in the area.
How you can donate to families in the Wabash Valley
Locations will be open each Friday through December 8 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day.
- NOVEMBER 3: Regional Hospital
- NOVEMBER 10: Robinson Walmart
- NOVEMBER 17: Linton Walmart
- NOVEMBER 24: Sullivan Walmart
- DECEMBER 1: Brazil (TBD)
- DECEMBER 8: Rockville IGA
Participating agencies include: Regional Hospital, THFD, Greene County Ambulance Service, Sullivan County Ambulance Team, Trans Care, Parke County EMS, Star Ambulance and United Life Care.
