MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - Ambulances answering a call for help across the world. PrideStar Trinity EMS out of Massachusetts is donating two of their vehicles to Ukraine.
“We've given them away or donated them to other countries before the Dominican Republic and Haiti," PrideStar President & CEO David Daly said. "And we heard about when we heard about U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine, it just made all the sense in the world.”
US Ambulances for Ukraine founder Chris Manson said the idea all started with a simple question when he and his daughter were watching the news.
“My daughter, when she was seven, she's ten now. But when she was seven, when the war first - the full-scale invasion first started, she just asked me, ‘Hey dad, is there something we can do to help the people of Ukraine?’," Manson said. "They were throwing wounded people in the back of any kind of vehicle they could. They really didn’t have the ambulances to transport people. And that's where I said, ‘Hey, maybe they need ambulances.’”
Fast forward three years, Manson and his organization have sent more than 100 emergency vehicles overseas - ambulances, fire engines, SUVs, wheelchair accessible busses - and they’re sending more.
Now, PrideStar’s two contributions from Marlborough are currently on their way.
“They were ready and on the road up until that day we pulled them off," Daly said, "and they're going to be deployed onto the front lines of Ukraine and be utilized right away.”
“I've got three more ambulances that are in route," Manson said, "And the two from PrideStar, first of all, they're amazing looking ambulances. I'm so excited. I haven't seen them in person. I've seen the pictures and they look great. But they're going to be (numbers) 104, 105.”
Manson said all of the vehicles they send have served their purpose in the U.S., but they can still make a big impact.
“All of these vehicles are 200 to 300 and 400,000 miles," Manson asid. "And again, they've had their glory days in the United States, and this is really their second life or they're going into retirement. And so we're just we're giving them a chance before they get scrapped to do some good.”
PrideStar has also loaded up the vehicles with medical supplies. Manson said answering the call in Ukraine wouldn’t be possible without the power of generosity.
“They will use utilize every piece of equipment and product that we give them," Daly said, "because the need is so great.”
“Without the volunteers, without people like the ambulance company there in your neck of the woods, PrideStar or any of the other donors in the past, none of this would have happened," Manson said. "So, I'm just beyond grateful for everyone that participated and helped out.”
US Ambulances for Ukraine is always fundraising as Manson said it costs about $11,000 to deliver an ambulance abroad.