The New Jersey EMS Task Force, a statewide organization designed to respond to large-scale man-made and natural disasters, has been awarded a generous grant from the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation. The $25,000 grant will go directly to providing personal protective equipment to the NJ EMS Task Force members on the frontlines of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The men and women of the NJ EMS Task Force have been integral in the fight against COVID-19,” said Michael Bascom, President of the Non-Profit Board of Directors. “This grant from the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation will provide us with funds to assure our members have the right PPE they need now, and well into the future.”

“Our foundation is committed to helping those in our community who are committed to helping our New Jersey communities, especially in these times of crisis,” said Edele Hovnanian. “The men and women who are part of this Task Force are part of the growing list of heroic organizations and people who are helping our communities get through this crisis and we will forever be grateful to them.”

The NJEMSTF was activated in March to be part of the state’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Working side-by-side with local, state, and national health, law enforcement and office of emergency management teams, members have handled such missions as providing administrative and logistics support at the mobile COVID-19 testing sites, deployed Western Shelter tent facilities at 20 hospitals, placed oxygen generators at various facilities, and coordinated the deployment of its medical ambulance bus fleet to transport COVID-19 positive patients from long term care facilities and hospitals. The team is also staffing regional temporary morgue sites, the deployment of out-of-state FEMA ambulance teams, working to obtain and distribute PPE, and coordinating state EMS needs.

“This funding will assure the safety of our NJ EMS Task Force providers and enhance the care our providers deliver to the people of New Jersey, every hour of every day,” said John Grembowiec, Task Force Advisory Board Chairman. “This grant will also allow us to focus on the immediate and long-term needs of disaster planning and preparations throughout the state.”