Supporters keep inching closer to goal

The Supporters for the Hill City Ambulance have raised over $300,000 toward the cost of  building a permanent ambulance building on the Hwy. 385 site in town. Lori Comer, who sits on the nonprofit board, said just that day, for example, she got three more donations: one for $1,000 and two for $100.

“Every little bit helps,” she said. “If you’re somebody who’s ever had to call the ambulance to your house you know how important it is. It’s a long time to have it come from Rapid City.” 

Comer is personally  grateful that now the ambulance is no longer volunteer. 

“I for one appreciate having a paid staff 24/7,” she said. And while the ambulance district is huge, covering from Deerfield to the Wyoming border, “it’s still good to know that the service itself will be housed right in Hill City.”

The Hill City ambulance  has two fully-equipped ambulances and responds to over 250 calls each year. Two trained staff members are on staff 24-7, 365 days a year. Those staff members are trained to assist the ill and injured, provide necessary and life saving treatment and transport for additional care.

The  Supporters  of the  Hill City Ambulance fund received several grants, including a First Interstate  Bank grant of $2,500 and a South Dakota Community Foundation matching grant of $20,000. That grant will be used to buy equipment such as a generator, a snow plow and a lawn mower. 

Comer has had one individual donate twice in the amount of $100,000, money used to retire the district debt at the donor’s request.

“I’ve had $20 donations and $100,000 donations,” said Comer who is grateful for any amount.

She’s also had a lot of support from the community. Art Forms Gallery did a $1 a bottle water sale this summer and gave her a check for $400. They plan on doing it again this summer. The 1885 Steakhouse and Saloon held a ribs fundraiser and also personally donated. 

“Those people are brand new to the community, they’re awesome people,” said Comer. 

Comer is not afraid to ask anyone for money and she’s going to keep asking people “until they say no.” In the year and two months the supporters board has been in existence she’s only had one person say no. She says most people are very generous. 

“Not everyone can give $5,000 or $1,000,” she said. 

Comer describes a little old lady who recently gave her $20. 

“It came from the bottom of her heart. It was probably a lot of money for her,” she said.

Sometimes Comer is surprised by who gives. Her uncle in Piedmont gave her a $500 check because he wants to see the district succeed. 

“He doesn’t even live here,” said Comer.

All totaled, the supporters for the Hill City Ambulance  has raised over $300,000 “with our little board” said Comer, who describes the other members Sharon Martin and Vicki Barlean as “go getters.” 

Supporters for the Hill City Ambulance is coming up with all sorts of different ways to raise money, from selling $1 raffle tickets to its newest  idea, Star of Life trees.

The Star of Life trees will be located at Gypsy Rose Studio, Horsecreek Salon and Spa, First Impressions and Elizabeth’s Coffee Company. They will be ready the first part of February. 

They will use the insignia for the ambulance as their model. There will be items on the trees that the ambulance needs, things like a toaster or bed or microwave. 

“We don’t want someone to go out and purchase those things due to commercial regulations,” said Comer.

 But what they do want is money for each of the items. As people donate for the various items they get their name on the back of a star, which gets hung from the tree.

Supporters for the Hill City Ambulance is also doing hanging baskets again this year and has already begun taking orders from merchants. The baskets will  include the same color flowers as last year but will be easier to take care of. They are taking orders until they are sold out. Last year they raised $400 this way.

The baskets will be delivered in mid-to-late May and Comer will start taking orders from the general public sometime after March 1. 

The public can also get involved by bidding on baskets at the Tour de Chocolate event in February which will feature a raffle basket filled with donated Jon Crane prints and a keyboard.

Comer herself is growing personally, getting to know a lot more of the  people downtown. 

“It’s been awesome,” she said.

The ambulance district  itself  is waiting for enough snow to burn down the old Matkins house where the new building will go up. It hopes by late spring to “turn dirt.” In the meantime that building has been used by groups like  the Pennington County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team  and the Hill City Fire Department for valuable training. 

The future Hill City Ambulance building will be 5,000 square feet, with two drive-through garage stalls, a decontamination room,  a  training room, sleeping quarters, bathrooms and showers and kitchen. The estimated cost of the building is between $1 million and $1.5 millioin. The building will be equipped with emergency power and communication equipment and will be constructed to allow room for future expansion.

The Supporters for the Hill City Ambulance is a recognized 501(c)3 and is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations.