News Releases

Rural/Metro companies join annual Southwest Ambulance Halloween Candy Collection

MESA, Ariz. (October 18, 2012) – Wondering what you will do with your leftover Halloween candy? The Southwest Ambulance Candy for Troops event is back, and this year it will be bigger and better than ever! PMT Ambulance and Rural/Metro Fire Department are joining the candy collection effort. Avoid a sugar high and bring your candy to one of several drop off sites throughout the Valley.

For the third year in a row, collected Halloween candy will be sent to Operation Gratitude for inclusion in care packages sent to American troops overseas. Last year, Southwest Ambulance collected 212 letters and more than 3,000 pounds of candy for the non-profit organization based out of the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California.

Save yourself a stomach ache and make a soldier smile by bringing your candy to one of Rural/Metro’s Halloween candy collection events:

Dates:   Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2
Times:  7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

EAST VALLEY COLLECTION
Location:              Southwest Ambulance & Rural/Metro Fire  Headquarters
                              708 W. Baseline Road, Mesa
Location:              PMT Ambulance Headquarters
                              617 W. Main Street, Mesa
WEST VALLEY COLLECTION
Location:              Southwest Ambulance West Valley Operations Facility
                                5222 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale
Location:              Rural/Metro Central Arizona Dispatch Operations Center
                                5835 W. Palmaire Ave., Glendale

All branches of our armed forces will be represented by Southwest Ambulance, PMT and Rural/Metro Fire employees participating in the events. Southwest Ambulance Duty Officer Josh Zayas, a former Marine, says he is grateful to witness continued support for deployed troops.

 “A sweet treat from home is a great morale boost when you’re far away from the ones you love,” says Zayas. “It’s nice to know people are thinking about you.”

Event participants are encouraged to write a letter or draw a picture to send along with their candy, and will have an opportunity to tour patriotic ambulances, including Southwest Ambulance’s Salute our Troops Unit. The ambulance displays a unique collection of images depicting World War II, Vietnam, an A-10 “Warthog” aircraft, the Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopter, and a mix of notable, inspirational quotes. Collected candy and letters will be packaged in Southwest Ambulance’s medical supply warehouse and shipped to Operation Gratitude on Veterans Day.

 
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Media Contacts:
Holly Walter, Southwest Ambulance Communications & Media Manager
480.273.7111
Michelle Angle, PMT Director of Government Affairs, Community Relations & PIO
602.295.3294
Colin Williams, Rural/Metro Fire PIO
480.415.8897