Iowa ambulance full of sleeping bags, medical supplies going to Ukraine

Area Ambulance Service is the latest U.S. agency to donate a used rig instead of selling it

By Leila Merrill
EMS1

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A donated Cedar Rapids ambulance full of sleeping bags and medical supplies will leave Monday for Ukraine, KCRG reported.

Instead of using a reseller, Area Ambulance Service is donating an ambulance that was ready for retirement as part of an effort by an organization called U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine.

”To now have 18 ambulances in Ukraine and possibly have another 10 ambulances and a fire engine that we’re going to send in December just kind of blows my mind,” said Chris Manson, Founder of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine.

Meet ambulance 26. Now at our warehouse waiting for the others. Thank you Area Ambulance Service for donating.

Also, might have found ambulance 28 and 29. We could be shipping 11 🚑 and 1 🚒 next. Thanks https://t.co/tXwYTn0c8S for the shipping help. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/URKNSuwW4X
— US Ambulances for Ukraine (@AmbulancesU) November 22, 2022

Area Ambulance crewmembers collected about 40 new sleeping bags since Russian attacks in Ukraine have been causing power outages. Community members and staffers donated the gear.

“They’re just really good folks with big hearts,” said Keith Rippy, CEO of Area Ambulance Service, which donated the medical supplies in the ambulance.

"It’s in very good shape; our mechanic went through it bumper to bumper,” said Rippy.

By next month, 29 ambulances will have gone from the U.S. to Ukraine, the news outlet reported.

https://www.facebook.com/AreaAmbulanceService/posts/810696366986095/

It was a pleasure to meet the Odessa Volunteer Fire Fighters as we delivered ambulances and equipment to communities throughout Ukraine. We look forward to returning with even more equipment and ambulances on our next trip. https://t.co/66c85Cpl5i
— US Ambulances for Ukraine (@AmbulancesU) November 21, 2022