Middlesex launches incentives for fire, EMT volunteers

• The Middlesex County freeholders, Chamber of Commerce and college have teamed on the initiative.
• Emergency volunteers have dwindled to dangerously low rates, Freeholder H. James Polos said.
• Middlesex Chamber of Commerce members will offer 10 percent discounts, while the college will provide a tuition credit.
• The freeholders also passed a resolution calling for the entire state to address the issue.

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce (MCRCC), Middlesex County College and the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders have teamed to offer a discount incentive program that will benefit local first responders.

A new Rewards Card will offer discounts and other specials to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel as thanks for service and incentive to potential volunteers. They also will receive a tuition credit at the college, authorities said.

“The MCRCC will encourage its members to participate,” said Lina Llona, president of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Local fire and EMS departments also will be soliciting participation by local merchants. Participants and the discount/incentive they will offer under the program then will be listed on the MCRCC website.”

Middlesex County College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Patrick Madama added that the college “is pleased to support the county’s pilot program to provide lifelong learning opportunities for fire and EMS volunteers. The college’s academic programs in protective services include fire science and fire science technology. Enhancing the education of service personnel will benefit all those served by emergency squads in Middlesex County.”

The loss of volunteer responder forces in communities could have a devastating effect countywide, said county Public Safety and Health Committee Chairman H. James Polos, who helped conceive the program.

The goal also is to addresses community and economic development, Polos said.

“We must look at all opportunities, programs and incentives to retain our forces and creative ways to attract new volunteers,” he said.

“Volunteerism is the backbone of a strong community,” added Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, chairman of the county’s Business Development and Education Committee. “These initiatives provide the ‘thank you’ and the incentive necessary to keep that backbone strong.”

Tara Barbera, director of sales at the East Brunswick Hilton, said she and her staff are looking forward to doing their part. The hotel will offer a 10 percent discount on rooms to all county volunteer firefighters and EMTs, Barbera said.

“I speak on behalf of my entire staff when I say that we appreciate firefighters and first responders,” she said. “They are heroes. Volunteers go unnoticeed. This will rally the community together and give a little back. Any way we can do that I think is important. We appreciate hard work.

“I hope it will assist them and they utilize this discount. I’d like to see them use and enjoy it. If we all participate as a community and support them, that just makes us a stronger, more close-knit community. I think it’s a great cause.”

Tom Healey, volunteer president and captain of the Plainsboro Volunteer Fire Co., is among the volunteer leaders who helped the county conceive the program about a year ago.

Healey said he was glad to see the beneficial program come to fruition.

“I think it’s a great initiative,” he said. “It’s not just the volunteers that are looking for something. It’s their families, too. It’ll be nice to have a discount card to take them out to dinner. That brings real value to the program.

“We already have one person interested in the community college program, and it’s only a couple days old,” Healey added.

Not everyone sang the program’s praises.

While Metuchen Volunteer Fire Chief Rob Donnan appreciates Polos’ initiative, he said he didn’t expect the initiative to effectively address a lack of first responder volunteers.

“Freeholder Polos is actually the first elected official I have seen put any effort into this very important issue,” Donnan said. “With that being said, I do not believe these programs will have a real or lasting impact on the situation we face. Societal changes and many other factors make this a much larger problem than most are willing to admit. My bigger hope is that his actions will attract the attention of state, county and local elected officials — that people begin to take the issue seriously so that we may be able to develop more impactful changes in order to sustain safe and effective operations.”

In addition to creating the rewards incentive program, the freeholders recently passed a resolution calling on the state to create a task force to explore the issue. Several promotional efforts, including a volunteer drive at local malls, also are under way.

The program is part of the freeholders’ Year of the Volunteer designation to highlight the need for the state, counties and municipalities to focus on volunteerism and to develop a long-term plan to ensure the stability of volunteer forces.

“The Board of Chosen Freeholders appreciate our first responders and the time they dedicate to saving lives,” Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said. “We look forward to working with Middlesex County College, the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the entire business community in making sure this initiative is a success.”

For more information about the rewards card, contact Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President Lina Llona at lina@mcrcc.org or 732-745-8090. For more about the tuition credit, call the freeholders’ office at 732-316-7136.

Staff Writer Bob Makin: 732-565-7319; bmakin@MyCentralJersey.com