Ritchie Delivers for Ogdensburg: $100,000 to Upgrade Ambulance

State Senator Patty Ritchie visited the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad this week to see the squad’s ‘newest’ ambulance. The vechicle is actually a retired ambulance that was refurbished thanks to a $100,000 state grant Senator Ritchie secured, allowing the rescue squad to better provide emergency health services in the community.

Using the funding provided by Senator Ritchie, the rescue squad removed the back end of an out-of-service ambulance used for patient care, reconditioned it and mounted it on a new, state of the art, 2017 cab and chassis.  It is now back in service.

“Members of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad go above and beyond to provide lifesaving services to those in our community,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. “I am pleased to provide this funding, which will improve the safety of those in our region by helping the Squad respond to emergencies more efficiently.”

“Thanks to Senator Ritchie we have been able to replace a vehicle badly in need of repair, and put our vehicle replacement schedule back on track during a tough financial year,” said R. Storm Cilley, Treasurer of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. “This would not have been possible without her help.”

Made up of 40 volunteers and 12 staff members, the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad serves a 175 square mile area and responds to roughly 2,300 calls a year. It is also a premiere training facility for St. Lawrence and Jefferson County students enrolled in EMT and paramedic courses.

Securing funds for the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad builds on Senator Ritchie’s past efforts to improve community safety. Recently, she delivered $90,000 to support the important services provided by three other North Country ambulance squads.

(Pictured left to right, standing in front of the newly refitted ambulance are Ken Gardner, Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Chief of Emergency Services, Senator Patty Ritchie and R. Storm Cilley, Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Treasurer)