The Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance (NLCA) received a generous anonymous donation of $5,000 via the Local Area Fund held at the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut, Inc.

One of the few emergency medical services organizations in Connecticut that remains 100 percent volunteer and does not charge for its services, the NLCA depends on the generosity of contributors to its annual appeal to serve the people of Norfolk, Colebrook and surrounding towns with high-quality emergency medical services.

Deputy Chief Christopher Little said, “We hope to put the grant toward a Stryker Powerload, which is a device that lifts the gurney into and out of the ambulance.” The grant will only cover one third of that expense, so the group still needs to raise a lot more money.

“As the population grows, to put it delicately, back injuries are one of the most common among Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The Powerload has been shown to reduce the risk of cumulative back trauma. It is also safer for the patient,” Little added.

The ambulance corps currently has 26 EMTs, 16 drivers and four emergency medical responders in the rotation. The group is always looking for more volunteers. Applications can be downloaded at the NLCA website, www.norfolkambulance.com.

The Norfolk Senior Housing Corporation (aka Meadowbrook) was also awarded a grant from the Local Area Fund of the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut. They will use the $1,000 grant to support general operations.