Friday, December 24, 2010
** Toronto medic’s charity supplies blankets to the homeless
** Mississippi firefighters/EMTs raise money for paramedic battling cancer
CANADA NEWS
** An organization run by a Toronto paramedic is helping to keep the homeless warm this Christmas, with Globalmedic Rapid Response Team circulating some 3,000 blankets to those in need. The Toronto Sun (Tom Godfrey/December 20) said the yellow coverings, donated by Peel Region EMS, will be given to 12 shelters in the Toronto and Peel area. Sheets and some towels are also included in the offering. Global Medic spokesman and founder Rahul Singh said his group is aiming to help society’s vulnerable, particularly as the winter temperatures drop. Fellow Global Medic worker Steve Kepka said though the donation will be helpful, the demand for the blankets almost exceeds the organization’s ability to supply them.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Tupelo, Mississippi paramedic battling cancer was given a heartwarming Christmas gift from her colleagues. WTVA (December 20) said Robin Blalock was awarded $301 from fellow firefighters and EMTs who raised the money in lieu of exchanging gifts with one another. Settling on helping someone in need, the thirty contributors pulled Blalock’s name at random out of a hat. Firefighter and friend Robert Woods said Blalock’s selection was perfect, since she had always taught and assisted many of her colleagues in times past. Woods said he hoped the donation might go some small way towards showing Blalock they care about her and her plight.
