HAMPDEN – Town ambulances will have the latest technology on board by the end of the week, thanks in large part to a local business.

After three months of fundraising, the Edwards Family Shop ‘n Save donated about $6,300 to the town for the purchase of a new defibrillator that will be used in one of the two town ambulances, said Lt. Frank Coombs of Hampden Public Safety, who also works part-time at the store. The $14,000 piece of equipment was partially funded by the town, and tax dollars would have paid the entire bill if Dana Edwards had not offered to jump-start a fundraising campaign.

“The whole idea was to buy a piece of equipment that may save a life down the road, while bringing people together in the community and working with town businesses and town government,” Edwards said recently.

The new defibrillator will replace one the town has been borrowing from Capital Ambulance Service, Coombs said. Now the town has two ambulances with the latest technology, which is a great asset to the community, he said.

Edwards has raised money in the past to purchase new CPR mannequins and other training materials for the department.

Grocery store associates began fundraising in November, creating a 2008 public safety calendar and selling them around the community, Edwards said. A different town business sponsored each month of the calendar. Employees also held a spaghetti supper, and customers donated coins at check-out lines and bottles at the store.

“This is a tremendous added benefit,” Coombs said. “This is not the first time Mr. Edwards and his associates have done this, they are very community-minded.”

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