Recently, I had the opportunity to visit The Bedford-Stuyvesant Ambulance Volunteer Corp, non-profit organization, in Brooklyn, NY. I was on-hand to document a visit from Randal Lautenburg, owner of Bravery Badge LLC. They are a distributor of badges and uniform insignia products for police, fire, and EMS services. He drove up from South Florida to Brooklyn to present and make a generous contribution of twenty beautiful badges. Commander James “Rocky” Robinson, co-founder and executive director of BSVAC, beamed with pride and appreciation as he received the gift in front of his volunteer EMS staff, made up of young people from the community.
In the short amount of time during my visit, it was clear to me this is an organization in need. BSVAC receives no government funding. They operate from a trailer on a lot formerly a place for drug activity. During the 80s, the community and much of New York City were decimated by the crack epidemic. They are in an area where there is very little emergency/medical services. Usually, they are the first responders, and they are the difference to saving a life.
It is contributions from people like Mr. Lautenburg, a retired former police officer that help organizations like BSVAC continue to do wonderful things in and outside their community.
For more information:
The Bedford-Stuyvesant Ambulance Volunteer Corp
www.braverybadge.com
