Picture Butte seniors to the rescue

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Sunny South News

A new ambulance is out and about and on the road in the Picture Butte area and thanks to two community groups in the town new equipment is also on the way.

“It was something long in the making. Our other one was 12 years old, so it’s far overdue and we’ve been really looking forward to it. It’s great and good for the community. We still have our old unit and we’re keeping it as a spare and hopefully in the future, possibly operating two ambulances but for now just this new one will be on the road,” said Amy West from Picture Butte Emergency Services, adding the new ambulance was picked up in Saskatoon in February.

The Friends of the Picture Butte Municipal Library Society were able to donate $3,000 for new equipment.

The Happy Oldtimers were also able to donate $2,000 to go towards purchasing new equipment for the new ambulance acquired by Picture Butte Emergency Services.

“As seniors we value this association,” said spokesperson of the two local groups Elaine King.

“Picture Butte has so many seniors and both of these groups are made up of people who range between 75 and 94 and they’re doing all the work to earn this money. It’s coming from casino money from both accounts and we work very hard to earn that money and to give it away,” said King, adding the groups are happy there’s a new ambulance to serve residents.

West noted an ambulance is an expensive vehicle to purchase and to maintain and being a volunteer fire department in a small municipality the department works with a limited budget.

“We right now have our old equipment from the previous unit in it so these generous people are helping us with funds to purchase new equipment, so that we can keep both units fully stocked and put the old equipment back in the old unit,” said West.