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The East Allen Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps (East Allen EMS), which shut down in July 2023, today donated some of the assets from its liquidation to the George E. Moerkirk Emergency Medicine Institute (EMI) at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).
East Allen EMS past president Michele Morrow delivered a check for $26,960 to EMI that officials say will be used to set up a scholarship fund for emergency medical technician (EMT) students going through the EMI program.
“Over the years, many of our members trained at and received their EMT certification through EMI,” Morrow said. “As such, we have selected EMI to receive a financial donation as part of our final service to the community.”
Morrow said East Allen EMS provided dedicated 911 service to East Allen Township and surrounding communities for 45 years before having to close its doors. She said as part of the dissolution process, the board of directors decided to best honor the organization’s legacy by continuing its core beliefs in giving back to the community.
The George E. Moerkirk Emergency Medicine Institute at LVHN holds three EMT classes per year to train individuals who would like to become an EMT. An EMT is a first responder who provides emergency medical care and transportation for patients outside of the hospital setting and is the building block for pre-hospital emergency medical services. The EMT Program consists of both didactic and hands-on training. EMT training is approximately 120–150 hours in length.
EMI director Marianne Kostenbader, BSN, RN, says this is the 41st year EMI has conducted EMT classes. To date this year, 47 out of 49 students have successfully completed the EMT course. Once a student successfully completes the written and psychomotor exam, they are eligible for hire by an EMS organization to either volunteer or work as an EMT.
Kostenbader said scholarships from the East Allen Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be awarded to two students in each class who have achieved the highest grade-point average at the end of the course. Tuition for the EMT class helps pay for books, supplies and instructor fees associated with the course.
