One of the area’s happiest holiday traditions continued Wednesday, as Richland County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff delivered toys, clothing and other items donated to benefit Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
For the past seven years, EMS has challenged the community to “Stuff an Ambulance” full of donated items for CASA, the County’s national award-winning advocacy program that trains volunteers to help children who have entered the court and welfare systems.
On Wednesday, Santa Claus led a fleet of four ambulances from EMS Headquarters downtown to CASA, where “elves” – CASA employees and volunteers – unpacked the items and began getting them ready to distribute to children in need next week, just in time for the holidays.
“Richland County EMS donations benefit RC CASA and the community in ways that are not spoken about when they adopt our agency and support the future,” said Dante Roberts, CASA’s executive director. “Children who, at times, are in survival mode get little pieces of joy, and that's because of community partners like EMS.”
Residents donated between 1,200 and 1,300 items for this year’s donation drive. Along with toys and clothing, the items included books, blankets, bookbags, bicycles, musical instruments, and athletic equipment.
For more information on “Stuff an Ambulance,” call 803-576-3409.