CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The Chillicothe non-profit known as Ambulance Rescue 33 has announced it will not be conducting its annual Donut Days fundraiser this year as the group transitions into the Rescue 33 Community Foundation.
The foundation will provide scholarships to students who aspire to study emergency services.
“We still strongly believe in the EMS system, so we want to see that grow,” said the organization’s Tracy Scheeler.
“What we’ve heard is high school kids don’t really understand the opportunities they have in this field.”
Established in 1966, Ambulance Rescue 33 had provided volunteer ambulance services until 2014, when it was replaced by Advanced Medical Transport.
Despite no longer providing ambulance service, the group continued until this year to conduct Donut Days, with proceeds benefiting other local non-profits.
Scheeler explained the decision to cancel this year’s event was made when the group realized it would no longer be financially viable for the community to try and fund a volunteer service.
“We didn’t come to this conclusion lightly, and we didn’t come to it quickly enough,” she said.
“We met with folks in January and February and still wanted to go with the ambulance route of some sort, and when that didn’t work out, then we had to decide on this.”
“There were a lot of tears shed.”
Scheeler said the organization will probably hold a pancake breakfast in the fall, and resume Donut Days next year.
“We’re not doing away with the donut sales. It’s a huge part of who Chillicothe is,” she said.
Scheeler said the organization’s building on Santa Fe will remain open for community rental.
