Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Receives $5,000 Grant from Homes for Heroes Foundation

The Homes for Heroes Foundation awarded the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, EMS company 79, a $5,000 grant to help fund the renovation of their dated building that will allow their team to be more comfortable and serve their community better. Homes for Heroes, Inc. and the Homes for Heroes Foundation are honored to support Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad in their mission to support and serve the Hollywood and Leonardtown, Maryland community.

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Mission

Why was the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Established?

Emergency Medical Services to the Hollywood and Leonardtown areas in the state of Maryland originally started in 1966.

The first Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad officially went into operation in 1975 with sixteen Charter members to support the Hollywood and Leonardtown community’s emergency medical service needs. The ground breaking and construction for the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad’s current building took place in April 1982.

The squad is entirely made up of volunteers, and there are five membership types:

• Active Duty Member – Primarily responsible for responding to calls for service. Must complete training as an Emergency Medical Responder or Emergency Medical Technician.
• Associate Members – Persons with specific knowledge or skills. Do not respond to calls for service. Services include but are not limited to administrative duties or assisting with fundraising events.
• Designated Emergency Drivers (DEDs) – Persons willing to respond to calls for service in a “Driver Only Role”. DEDs must be CPR certified and complete the MFRI Emergency Vehicle Operators Course.
• Junior Member – Ages 16-18. May enroll in an Emergency Medical Technician course and respond to calls for service under the supervision of a crew chief.
• Cadets – Ages 12-15. Cadets will become CPR certified, participate in training and will learn great team work skills.

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad also has a fleet of 4 ambulances and 2 rapid response utility vehicles.

How Does the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Help their Community?

In 2024 alone, the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad was called on 2,620 incidents.

A standard volunteer Emergency Medical Service (EMS) team with trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) typically provides a wide range of services to their community, including:

Emergency Medical Response and Transport

• Emergency Medical Care – Responding to 911 calls for medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, respiratory distress, trauma, and other critical conditions.
• Patient Stabilization and Transport – Providing life-saving care and transporting patients to hospitals or trauma centers.
• Basic and Advanced Life Support (BLS & ALS) – Depending on the level of EMT training (Basic EMTs provide BLS; Paramedics provide ALS).
• Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Response – Assisting in large-scale emergencies, such as natural disasters, accidents, or public health crises.
• Standby Medical Coverage – Providing EMS support at local events like fairs, parades, sports events, concerts, and festivals.

Disaster and Crisis Response

• Natural Disaster Assistance – Providing emergency medical aid during hurricanes, floods, or other disasters.
• Evacuation and Shelter Assistance – Assisting with evacuations and providing medical support in community shelters.

In addition to providing Emergency Medical Services to the Hollywood and Leonardtown areas, squad members also donate their time to help support the team’s fundraising activities and community programs.

According to the history page of their website, past fundraising efforts and community based programs include: auctions, candy sales, dances, air fairs, Gospel singing, Race Track stand-by, basket bingo, ATV raffle and other raffles, dunking booth at the HVFD Carnival, family portrait studios, bingo machine, wood splitting contest, chain saw raffle, pizza sales, grocery store register receipts, parking cars at the Blessing of the Fleet, and EMS services during the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival.

In addition, during the holiday time of year over November and December, squad members have contributed food, time and money to provide “Food Baskets” and gifts for the needy.

They also contributed to the building of the playground located at the St. Mary’s County Governmental Complex in Leonardtown.

For nearly 50 years, the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad has been more than just an emergency medical service provider. The squad has been a pillar of support for the Hollywood and Leonardtown communities. Beyond responding to medical emergencies and at times providing lifesaving care, squad members dedicate their time to fundraising efforts and local initiatives that strengthens the entire community.

How will this Grant be Used to Support Heroes?

The Homes for Heroes Foundation $5,000 grant will be used to help cover the renovation costs of the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad’s building, to help modernize their facility and fix things that are run down or dated.

Watch the grant presentation video:

According to the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad members who were in attendance during the Homes for Heroes grant check presentation along with Jay Flynn, Homes for Heroes Foundation Director, and Jimmy Hayden, Homes for Heroes Real Estate Specialist; Barbara Wible, Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad President, Chief Eleshia Wible, and Treasurer Crystal Nelson all had this to say regarding the need for their building renovation.

“The building was built in 1982. We added an addition in 2002. There have been no modern updates to the building since it was constructed and we really need to renovate and upgrade,” said President Barbara Wible.

“Along with our fundraising, grants like this help us get to where we need to be to make these improvements,” said Treasurer Crystal Nelson.

“The back addition in 2002 is in desperate need of some love,” added Chief Elishia Wible.

“We are experiencing roof leaks, and leaning due to settling in different areas of the building. We have windows that need to be replaced. It just needs a good modernization is what it needs,” continued Barbara Wible.

How You can Support Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad’s Mission

You can help support Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad’s mission by visiting their website, taking in what they offer, and how you can volunteer if you’re interested. To further support their efforts, please consider making a donation to help support their mission.

Homes for Heroes real estate specialist, Jimmy Hayden, was asked why the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad was so important to him, and why he chose to nominate the organization for a Homes for Heroes Foundation grant.

Jimmy replied by saying, “I chose Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad for a few reasons. One, I’ve been living in Saint Mary’s County all my life. Part of Leonardtown Hollywood the entire time. I know 90% of the people here. Two, I know how hard they all work at trying to make our community safe. And three, I know they’re in desperate need of building renovations.

I’ve been through the building. They have major issues with the building. And I felt this grant could help eliminate some of the fundraising they would need to do in addition to running their calls and training. Being able to provide this grant to them is really a good thing.”

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad has long been a cornerstone of the Hollywood and Leonardtown communities, offering both emergency medical services and unwavering community support. The $5,000 grant from the Homes for Heroes Foundation is a testament to the squad’s impact and the importance of their mission. With these funds, much-needed renovations will help ensure that their volunteers have a safe and updated space to continue their lifesaving work. Their dedication, both on and off duty, reflects the true spirit of service, and this grant will help them carry that mission forward for years to come.

Foundation Grants: Part of Homes for Heroes Circle of Giving

Grants from the Homes for Heroes Foundation are made possible by the Homes for Heroes Circle of Giving and its network of real estate and mortgage professionals. Homes for Heroes, Inc. is committed to providing savings to community heroes; including firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military (active duty, reserves and veterans), healthcare professionals and teachers.

To expand its Circle of Giving, Homes for Heroes, Inc., donates a portion of its earnings to the Homes for Heroes Foundation. So, every time a hero buys or sells a home using the Homes for Heroes program, they are helping other heroes across the country who are facing a housing crisis or are in need of urgent financial assistance.

If you are interested in learning more about how Homes for Heroes can guide you through the home buying, selling or refinancing process AND save you an average of $3,000 after closing on a home, simply sign up to be connected with our local specialists. They will follow up with you to answer all of your questions.

If you’re interested in learning about our wider impact, simply visit the Homes for Heroes Foundation for more information about recent grants to hero organizations, how much it has awarded, and how it all works.

If you’re interested in supporting and donating to the Homes for Heroes Foundation to assist heroes in need, please visit the donation page to submit your contribution via PayPal. We thank you for your interest and support.