Answering the Call: Support the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance & Rescue Squad

It might seem odd that the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad (LNHARS) is a nonprofit organization that needs to ask for money each year like a PBS radio station, but that’s how things work. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is not an essential service in New Jersey, so the LNHARS does not get funded by taxpayer money.

When you call 911, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) come to your aid, and, if needed, transport you to a hospital for advanced medical attention. Lambertville residents who need to be hospitalized have a longer commute to get transported to hospitals in Flemington, Doylestown, or Langhorne. After service is rendered, they bill your insurance.

LNHARS might get a full payment, but typically they receive a partial payment, because insurance rarely covers everything in an invoice. Not everyone has medical insurance, so some calls end up not being compensated at all. As a result, squads in neighboring townships have completely closed down. That has increased call volume at the LNHARS, which now responds to emergencies in Lambertville, East Amwell, West Amwell, half of Delaware Township, New Hope Borough, and as far as Stockton and Kingwood township.

About 10% of the LNHARS revenue comes from municipalities. Lambertville contributes around $40,000 as an in-kind donation to fund the squad’s workman’s compensation fund. New Hope also gives approximately $16,000 per year. A new ambulance costs over $250,000 and ideally would be replaced as often as annually. That’s out of the budget, however, so the squad stretches the use of an ambulance over many years.

The Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad used to be mostly volunteer driven, but that changed in the 1980s when they began hiring full-time EMTs to work days, leaving the overnight shift to volunteers.

Kevin Snyder’s family was involved with the ambulance squad back when he joined the youth program in 1986. He graduated to the senior program in 1989 and has been volunteering ever since. Now he’s the Squad Chief, and recently received an Emergency Services Award for his decades of service and dedication.

Lisa Aron joined as a volunteer in 2009. Today she is Squad President—a volunteer position she has held for the past two years—overseeing the administrative team and acting as a community liaison.

Think about that: in Lambertville, where the median owner-occupied household value is approximately $500,000, the ambulance squad leaders are volunteers.

You might think the LNHARS should lower their pay rate, but with over 2,000 calls this year it’s reassuring to know LNHARS EMTs are paid an average rate in the twenty-something dollars per hour range. As a result, the LNHARS retains seasoned EMTs.

Average payroll costs around $800,000 per year and the squad only brings in about $600,000 annually. They’ve operated in the red every year, except during COVID thanks to PPP loans. That’s obviously not sustainable, and it’s why fund drives are so important.

What Can They Do?

Seriously, what can they do? Leadership at the squad is always trying to find revenue solutions so they can stop operating at a loss, and they’re all ears.

“How do we be here if we can’t fund it and be sustainable?” Chief Snyder asked.

He wasn’t being rhetorical. He and Squad President Aron frequently brainstorm about ways to offer volunteers some form of added benefit such as local discounts or perks, but they’re not marketing experts. They’re volunteers who are busy overseeing operations of a multi-municipality emergency and rescue squad, and they could use your help.

What Can You Do?

There are many ways you can be of service. Young people can join the Youth Squad Program, which happens year ’round.

If you want to become an EMT, they’d love to have you, but know that it requires training, education, and certification, which takes time and dedication.

“We need people to do all kinds of tasks,” said Squad President Aron, encouraging potential volunteers to think outside of the box about ways they could participate.

The Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad is open to your ideas:

• Local business sponsorship? Talk to them.
• Can you sew? They need you.
• Are you a bookkeeper? Add up the numbers for them.
• Are you a grant writer? They would like to apply for grants.
• Are you a marketing expert? Help them get the word out.
• Seriously, they’re receptive. Send your pitch via the LNHARS website.

You can also directly support the LNHARS simply by sending money.

Make a Financial Donation

The LNHARS fund drive happens once per year, but you can make a donation any time via this link: Support the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad. Whatever you’re willing and able to offer makes a positive difference and helps save lives.

FYI: PayPal gives 100% of your donation to the squad. Venmo takes a cut.