GEMS Receives Anonymous Donation

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By Richard Kaufman

GEMS Director of Quality Assurance, Colin Bassett; Executive Director, Tracy Schietinger; Board Chair, Jenny Baldock; owner of Richards, Scott Mitchell. (Richard Kaufman photo)

If helping others in times of hardship and adversity is a sign of a strong community, then the Greenwich community is certainly rock solid.

Recently, Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) accepted a $20,000 donation from an anonymous resident in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The donation was facilitated by Richards, as the donor is a longtime customer and friend of the Greenwich Avenue clothing retailer.

The funds will benefit both GEMS and local restaurants — $8,000 will be put towards installing Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) status boards for GEMS — and $12,000 will be distributed in gift cards from local Greenwich restaurants to GEMS employees. Each gift card will be $100.

“The donor wanted to make a donation specifically to support people on the frontline like the GEMS staff, but also to support local business. We were thrilled with that because we want to support local businesses, because they’ve been very supportive of us. Many of the restaurants that we’re getting gift cards from have been active supporters of the staff through this nightmare,” said GEMS Board Chair, Jenny Baldock, adding that several restaurants have donated meals to GEMS staff over the last few months.

GEMS Executive Director, Tracy Schietinger, said she was overwhelmed, taken aback, and humbled when she heard about the donation.

“I didn’t expect anything like this,” Schietinger said. “The community here has always been tremendous in supporting us. Throughout this whole pandemic, it’s just been extremely highlighted with the outpouring of support for what we’re doing everyday.”

Schietinger said the gift cards will help to lift the spirits of her staff, because they can share a good meal together with each other, or their families, and escape the everyday stress of confronting COVID-19.

“Now that we’re allowed to go out and eat at restaurants, this will bring our staff together outside of such a stressful environment. It will be something totally different from what they do day in and day out,” Schietinger said.

Colin Bassett, Director of Quality Assurance for GEMS, said it’s hard to put into words what the donation means to him.

Bassett remarked that it’s been difficult to adjust to a new normal in responding to calls and performing procedures. He said that during the peak of the coronavirus in town in the first three weeks of April, roughly 70 percent of total calls for medical assistance were screened for COVID-19. Of that total, about 38 percent ended up being positive.

“Mentally, it’s a strain to deal with all these new changes and having the support of the community. It’s really just amazing to have so many people come to our side. It’s really helped all of us get through this pandemic,” he said.

The CAD status boards, Bassett added, will help to provide staff awareness on where all GEMS ambulances are located at all times.

“This just allows for crews to get an easier view of the system status of the town as a whole,” he said.

Scott Mitchell, owner of Richards, said he was happy to help facilitate the donation after a longtime friend and client called him and said he wanted to help local first responders and small businesses.

“I’ve been in the store pretty much every day during quarantine, and I just saw GEMS trucks go by, fire trucks, police. No one was out, and it was all first responders, whether it was bringing people who had coronavirus to the hospital, or bringing people who didn’t have it but needed emergency care at the hospital. It was a mess,” Mitchell said.

Being so close to so many restaurants on Greenwich Avenue, Mitchell knows what they’ve been through since March.

“Every single [restaurant] is owned by someone local. They’re small businesses, and they took a huge hit because they had to close. Being able to give back to that is equally rewarding to keeping it local,” he remarked.

Mitchell’s hope is that others can step up and help those in need, as recovery from the pandemic continues.

“Inviting people into your world is what causes change. Inviting people into your philanthropy, inviting people into your community, inviting people to then give back and get involved by giving time and effort,” Mitchell added. “That’s our responsibility. To invite others to join us in giving back.”

Baldock recalled Mitchell’s family’s vision to “hug” the customer.

“I feel so hugged,” Baldock said. “It’s like we’re all in this together taking care of each other. That’s just so uplifting.”

For anyone interested in donating to GEMS, go to greenwichems.org.

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