Hollywood, MD – November 28, 2019 – Like many communities, local fire departments and emergency medical services in Maryland largely depend on the residents that donate their personal time. Without those commitments, many lifesaving services and resources would be unavailable, so there is consistently a need and demand for volunteerism.
Take it from Scott Randall of Hollywood, MD and Willie Knight of Lexington, MD – local volunteers and co-workers and employees of local telecommunications provider Atlantic Broadband. With continued devotion to give back, these men go well beyond the typical 40 hour work week commitment.
“Anyone who works in the telecommunications space can tell you that a 50 to 60-hour work week is normal,” said Scott Randall, local fire department volunteer and Atlantic Broadband Vice President and General Manager of Maryland. “However, these departments are open 24/7 365 days a year so we can always find a time to help out and contribute.”
Currently volunteering at Hollywood Fire Department, Randall has volunteered in many forms at fire departments across Maryland for over 20 years. While Knight serves as a volunteer EMT alongside his wife at the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad (LPVRS). Having proudly committed their free time to their Maryland communities over the years, both have gained significant admiration for the first responders they work beside and for the people they serve.
“Being an EMT isn’t an easy job, our team responds to about 9,000 calls per year that deal with fires or medical emergencies and each one comes with high stakes,” said Willie Knight, volunteer EMT and Atlantic Broadband Business Serviceability Coordinator. “However, the feeling we get from simply helping people who are so appreciative of our service makes volunteering very rewarding.”
Scott Randall shared, “The most rewarding part of being a member of a volunteer fire department is the satisfaction of doing your best with others who also do their best and knowing that everyone is there because they want to be, not because they have to be.”
As important as the role of volunteers is, recruiting for these types of jobs can be challenging, especially for Fire and EMT Departments that are crucial to small towns and rural areas. Over the years, Knight and Randall have experienced the rising need for volunteers and for financial support of these organizations firsthand but believe education can encourage more people to get involved.
“Since most of a department’s budget comes from donations, the key challenge for emergency and likely all kinds of volunteer work is fundraising,” said Randall. “The cost to be in the emergency services business is stunningly high, so everyone works diligently to fundraise and keep the doors open.”
Like the constant demand for donations and fundraising assistance, members of the community might also be surprised that there are volunteer needs that cover a wide range of skill sets – many well beyond firefighters and medics.
As Randall puts it, “the most important trait for a volunteer is a willingness or desire to be part of something, because just about everyone can contribute something despite skillset or age.”
There are plenty of roles and activities that might be a fit for residents who are kept busy with jobs and families but might be interested in getting involved in their communities. A few examples include, helping to keep the station clean, providing maintenance on the apparatus, lending a hand with fundraising events and planning, performing Fire Prevention education, teaching CPR, or assisting with the many other tasks that are important to keep a fire or EMT station operating.
There is always a demand for volunteers and many services that are instrumental to local communities rely on residents who contribute their support or time. “There is an available volunteer role or way to lend a hand for absolutely everyone, says Randall. “If you can’t volunteer your time, you can make a big difference by making donations, which we always really appreciate.”
Interested in getting involved or volunteering in your local community? Randall and Knight suggest stopping by or going online to your local station to see what you can do to help. “Anyone who has a desire to serve the Lexington, Maryland community can go online to the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad (LPVRS) where I run,” says Knight. “Or any volunteer squad and fill out an application to volunteer.” For opportunities outside of EMT work or your local fire department, visit, call or go online to community discussion boards, local businesses or other public workers to learn more.