Yorktown Emergency Medical Services (YEMS) celebrated its 35th Anniversary on November 9 at the Yorktown Community Hall. Community members showed up in full force to support these selfless volunteers. A long line of cars wound around the church bend, waiting patiently to pick up their takeout plates.
The fundraiser featured BBQ brisket plates overflowing with brisket, sausage, potato salad, and beans. Delicious baked goods were also available, including cakes, cookies, brownies, and other treats. Some attendees even competed for the famous cinnamon rolls.
“They’re fighting over my rolls!” exclaimed the baker.
Inside the hall, items for a silent auction were on display, including a stunning guitar, a stylish backpack, a Kendra Scott necklace, and more. Meanwhile, the stage was set for the evening dance with Chris Gonzales and The Rekkers. Outside, kids and adults played corn-hole tournament toss and puttputt golf.
YEMS is the lead agency for emergency situations, located at 508 N. Riedel. The Public Relations and Infectious Disease Control officer, Amy Lamprecht spoke about the history of EMS formation after the closures of Yorktown Memorial Hospital in 1986 and privately owned Roth Ambulance Service in 1989. In 1989, YEMS was established to meet the community’s needs.
Today’s staff is comprised of Executive Director Terri Rogers, Deputy Director Ashley Green, Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Gonzales, five paramedics, and an EMT intermediate.
“ As of today, we currently have roughly 1315 volunteers run the YEMS. We are very fortunate to staff two ambulances in a community of less than 2200. We’re available 24/7,” Lamprecht said.
YEMS is responsible for a roughly 25-mile radius area of Yorktown. “We cover Yorktown and surrounding areas. We have Nordheim and mutual aid agreements with Cuero, Goliad, and Karnes Counties,” she said.
“We’ve answered over 500 calls this year so far. We are dispatched through the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office in Cuero,” Lamprecht said. “Call 911 for help, and they will reach out to us.”
YEMS operates as a non-profit organization. Lamprecht reiterated that they do not receive funding from the city and instead depend on donations from local citizens, as well as money raised through fundraisers and payments from insurance companies.
She praised the community’s generosity. “We’ve been fortunate to have people in our community that have purchased some ambulances for us. Our most recent one was a 2021 Chevy ambulance. We have just recently had a family give us a donation in order to purchase some new life packs,” she said. There is a constant need to update obsolete equipment.
Regarding future needs, “The majority of the volunteers are women. ..Some of us have to pull extra or longer shifts…I would like to see more volunteers,” Lamprecht said.
There is no formal recruitment process; volunteers are recruited by “word of mouth.” Executive Director Terri Rogers conducts classes to prepare volunteers for EMT certification. Contact YEMS Rogers at terrir@ yorktownems.org for additional information.
“We have been offering free CPR classes for adults and children ages nine and up,” she said. Donations made it possible to offer CPR twice.
In the near future, they will team up with Denise Goebel for “Cooking Well with Diabetes” classes scheduled for November 14 &15 and 21st & 22nd from 11 AM -1 PM.
Thank you, YEMS, for your vital services driving, flying, AFib paddling, and CPR kissing to save lives!
