CAMP RIPLEY — With a $10,000 contribution from AT&T, the Salvation Army Northern Division is distributing Thanksgiving meals to paramedics, EMTs and support personnel deployed to Minnesota by Global Medical Response, the largest ambulance service in the country.
These mutual-aid first responders are on the front lines helping strained Minnesota hospitals hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of our missions is to respond to emergencies by providing food and comfort to first responders and victims,” said Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings, commander of The Salvation Army Northern Division, in a news release. “We’re honored to serve emergency workers on the pandemic’s front lines, and we’re extremely thankful to AT&T for their generous support.”
On Thursday, Nov. 26, the Salvation Army is delivering to-go Thanksgiving meal boxes for the medical personnel at Camp Ripley near Little Falls. On Nov. 19, Global Medical Response deployed 73 paramedics, EMTs and support personnel, along with 25 ambulances, to assist Minnesota’s emergency services providers supporting communities hit hard by the virus.
“As we celebrate Thanksgiving during what has been a difficult year for so many, we are very appreciative of our first responders and the efforts of The Salvation Army and AT&T to support our local COVID-19 relief efforts,” said Rep. Ron Kresha of Little Falls.
ADVERTISEMENT
To help ensure public safety has mobile broadband they need, the FirstNet team at AT&T deployed a dedicated FirstNet portable cell site to Camp Ripley, where Global Medical Response established an Incident Command Center. Public safety agencies on FirstNet have 24/7 access to a nationwide fleet of land-based and airborne deployable network assets — like a portable cell site — at no additional charge. These assets link to FirstNet via satellite without relying on commercial power, providing public safety with similar capabilities and connectivity as a cell tower.
“One of AT&T’s core values is to be there when people need us,” said Paul Weirtz, president of AT&T Minnesota. “With FirstNet, that’s exactly what we do — where public safety goes, we go. And this Thanksgiving, we are proud to extend our support even further by helping The Salvation Army deliver meals for the first responders and medical personnel who are providing care for our fellow Minnesotans as we fight this virus.”
