** PRESS RELEASE **

In response to the ongoing devastating impacts left by Hurricane Helene across the southeastern United States, on Monday March 16, 2025 the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company (HVFC) delivered their 2010 Ford medic unit known as Medic 28 to The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. This organization is a federally recognized Native American Tribe with over 15,000 members located in Cherokee, NC in the mountains of western North Carolina.

According to Gerard Ball, North Carolina Department of Commerce, and the coordinator of this donation, “the unit will serve multiple purposes with its new lease on life. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians has been trying to find a solution to provide transport to local and regional hospitals and other medical facilities without having to take a front-line unit out of service to do so. The donated unit will now provide the ability to transport elderly community members from Tsali Care, which is the Tribes long term care facility to hospitals and other medical facilities. With that said this unit will also serve to transport our Veterans from Cherokee to the Charles George VA Medical Center located in Asheville NC, about an hour and a half away. As a US Army Veteran 1996-2004 This one will be very special for me”.

According to HVFC Chief Troy Hipsley, the members of the Hampstead VFC have supported other local initiatives but are thrilled to make a direct connection to North Carolina and assist members of a community that are in need by providing this donation. A dedicated anonymous donor family in our community facilitated the logistics and the donation of the medic unit. The members of the Hampstead VFC are gratified to know that Medic 28 will continue its service by providing lifesaving medical transport to those most in need.