Old School Bus Will Help Support EHT Firefighters
By MICHELLE J. LEE Staff Writer, 609-272-7256
From the Atlantic City Press Published: Saturday, December 1, 2007
Click here for full article
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - An old school bus got a new lease on life, thanks to the Bargaintown Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. The 10-year-old bus that seats eight people was recently converted into a portable service station to help the township's 209 volunteer firefighters when they head out to emergency calls.
Four seats were removed and replaced with a stainless-steel counter and a small refrigerator for food. The bus was outfitted with electrical outlets, and it will have a microwave and hotdog cart.
Dolly Dube, the ladies auxiliary president, said the bus will also be stocked with blankets, clothing, socks, hand-warmers, a medical kit, water, protein bars and other necessities. "I pray we don't need it for anyone's home, but if we do, we can bring them in and get them warm," she said.
The Egg Harbor Township School District sold the bus for $1 in September, and it took about $1,000 and more than 140 hours of volunteer time to revamp the vehicle, Dube said. She said the microwave, counter and electrical work were donated.
While the school district has given away retired school buses to the police and recreation departments in the past, Superintendent Philip Heery said this was the first time a community group retrofitted an old school bus for another use. Normally, old vehicles would be taken away and sold as scrap metal, Heery said.
School Board Vice President Doris Dilley said she is glad the vehicle will be put to an alternative use. "I think it's an awesome opportunity," she said. "It's always great when the school district can assist the residents. These are the things that make it worthwhile."
Dube said she was thankful to get the bus, which can also serve double duty as a transportation vehicle for the auxiliary members to go out on fire emergency calls.
"We're out there to support the (firefighting) volunteers. � We just want to give something back to them," she said.
To e-mail Michelle Lee at The Press: MLee@pressofac.com
