The Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook EMS, the Harrison EMS, and The Twig of Westchester have joined forces to provide professional, highly trained medical services with state of-the-art equipment to the residents of our local communities.

 

The Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook EMS, the Harrison EMS, and The Twig of Westchester have joined forces to provide professional, highly trained medical services with state of-the-art equipment to the residents of our local communities.

 

The Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye EMS responds to about 5,000 calls and the Harrison EMS to 3,000 calls per year. These emergency responses can range from a school sports injury, a fall or heart attack at a nursing home or home residence, a fire scene, or a highway accident. The area hospitals do not provide ambulance coverage, relying on the communities to do so. The ambulance corps are our “emergency rooms on wheels”, providing cutting-age emergency care and medical treatment to our residents.

 

Since the closing of New York United Hospital in 2005, the two EMS organizations are evermore challenged to fulfill their mission of providing professional, highly skilled emergency medical care on a 24/7 basis. The communities served are diversified with multiple school districts, senior residences, colleges, and three major surrounding highways. EMS ambulances now have to travel greater distances to hospitals such as those in Greenwich, White Plains, Valhalla, and New Rochelle. Not only does this take more time and manpower, but also cause more wear and tear on the vehicles.

 

The cost of EMS ambulance service is partially covered by an annual stipend from the municipalities of Rye, Rye Brook, Port Chester, and Harrison and donations from residents. The primary source of EMS funds for operations is through third party billing or fees for service.

 

However, rising insurance costs, decreasing insurance company reimbursements, and tightened municipal budgets have limited the ability of the EMS to keep up with the state of the art equipment needs to service the community. This is where The Twig of Westchester, Inc. has taken on the challenge of helping the two EMS organizations realize their potential.

 

Beginning this year, The Twig has dedicated all of its fundraising efforts to support the EMS organizations of Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook, and Harrison. Twig donations to EMS are being used toward the purchase of equipment, medical supplies and materials, staff training, and vehicle maintenance and replacement. 

 

For more than 100 years, The Twig organization has been a vital force supporting the health care needs of the local communities via advocacy, fundraising, and hands-on volunteer efforts. The Twig has transitioned from a small group of dedicated women in 1911 rolling bandages in a small room over a shop in downtown Port Chester to a fundraising arm of the local hospital to currently supporting EMS to reach out to those in need of emergency care. Since The Twig’s inception, more than 3,000 members have raised in excess of $10 million for community health care services and equipment.

 

The Twig’s major fundraiser this year is the Annual Twig Holiday Fair being held November 16 from 12-6 p.m., and November 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Apawamis Club. This event will feature vendors selling a wide range of merchandise, great for holiday gift giving! The net proceeds will help support the two EMS organizations.

 

You can also support The Twig by shopping at or donating merchandise to the Twig Antiques Shop, located at 24 Smith Street, across from Carpet Trends. You can contact the store at 967-4518 or twiginc@optonline.net.