(L to R): NEW Cooperative Area Manager, Sara Anderson, presents Jennifer Vaske, paramedic, and Dakota Peterson, EMT with funds to improve the radio communications at West Hancock Ambulance Service.

The West Hancock Ambulance Service (WHAS), based in Britt, IA, recently accepted a contribution from the NEW Cooperative Foundation totaling $1,000. The funds will be used to purchase repeaters for the ambulance service’s portable radios. The project also received support from the Land O’Lakes Foundation, which provided matching funds totaling $1,000.

The ambulance service provides pre-emergency medical care and transportation to the west half of Hancock County, serving nearly 7,000 residents in a 320-square mile area that includes six communities.

“The funding will be used to purchase repeaters for our ambulance radios,” stated WHAS EMT Dakota Peterson. “Without the repeaters, our portable radios do not communicate with dispatch or other units during times of need. This means that our crews have to go to the ambulance to contact dispatch, which takes time away from the call. We are grateful for NEW Cooperative and the Land O’Lakes Foundation for their support of this important project for our service.”

NEW Cooperative Foundation Director, Gary Moritz, said the cooperative was pleased to support the project. “Securing funding for local first responder departments can often be difficult. We are happy to collaborate with the Land O’Lakes Foundation to provide $2000 in total funding to the West Hancock Ambulance Service.”

About NEW Cooperative, Inc. and the NEW Cooperative Foundation 

NEW Cooperative, Inc. is a farmer-owned grain, agronomy, energy and feed cooperative headquartered in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As a leading agriculture retailer, NEW Cooperative is focused on being an innovative and efficient provider of today’s agriculture markets and services to 8,000 members throughout their 60 locations in Iowa.

The NEW Cooperative Foundation is the charitable giving entity of NEW Cooperative, Inc. The Foundation is committed to investing in organizations that are dedicated to youth and education, human services, and civic purposes that further enhance the quality of life in our member’s local communities.

About the Land O’Lakes Foundation

Founded in 1996, the Land O’Lakes Foundation gift-matching programs allows member cooperatives to increase their giving impact in local communities. In 2021 the foundation’s member-match program gave $3 million to support member communities. More information about the foundation is available at www.foundation.landolakesinc.com.