On Saturday, February 17, St. Luke’s hosted the school’s first pancake breakfast to raise money for the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service (SVAS). The meal, which was open to the local community, was held in the Monohan event space.
Student volunteers served pancakes, pastries, fresh fruit, and other breakfast foods prepared by Tory Hill, the school’s catering service, and the dining staff.
SVAS was created in 1971, after a fatal car crash in Salisbury. The area’s previous emergency services had been shut down due to lack of funding, and a teenage girl passed away after she did not receive prompt care. In response, Mr. John Harney, founder of the tea company Harney & Sons, funded and organized a new volunteer ambulance team.
The squad began by operating out of a single van with limited equipment. To request the service, people called the White Hart Inn, where Harney was general manager. The switchboard operator would then forward the call to Harney’s home, where he would direct a team of emergency medical responders to the scene of the accident.
Many teachers, staff, and students have volunteered for the squad over the years. The service responds to emergency calls from campus and attends major school functions, including graduation.
Facilities Operations Administrator Ms. Marie Castagna has been an EMT with the team for seventeen years. She said, “Being part of a group that dedicates its time to helping others in the community is challenging. However, the emotionally demanding situations, along with the people you meet and are able to help, can form lifelong bonds.” The service currently has over 30 active members.
The Hotchkiss Medical Society (HMS) holds both EMR and EMT training courses on campus, which are led by Ms. Castagna. Jeff Shi ’24, co-head of HMS, said, “We’re very fortunate to be able to have this unique opportunity. Dozens of Hotchkiss graduates have obtained certification and now volunteer at their local ambulance corps. The EMS training courses have allowed students interested in medicine to gain a deeper, first-hand perspective. Whether responding to a call in the middle of the night or treating different patients, the EMS training courses foster passion and a better sense of civic engagement.”
Local firehouses often host pancake breakfasts to fundraise and unite the community over shared meals. Having attended many such breakfasts over the years, Mrs. Caroline Kenny-Burchfield, director of community partnerships and faculty advisor of St. Luke’s Society, realized that the school had the resources and facilities to do something similar. “St. Luke’s is always looking for ways not only to impact the community, but also give back and recognize how much the community provides for us,” Mrs. Burchfield said.
Although the unanticipated snowy weather reduced attendance, many residents from surrounding towns attended the breakfast and donated to SVAS. Attendees had the opportunity to meet other members of the community and enjoy musical performances by students, many of whom recently performed at Carnegie Hall.
All funds raised from the breakfast will be donated towards the purchase of a new ambulance, which can cost up to half a million dollars.
