VALLEY VIEW - Her first time donation was a whopper, but meant she'd not be showered with oodles of packages on her special day.
Emma Maurer didn't mind.
It was her choice to forgo presents during her birthday on June 13 and instead gather collections for the Hegins Area Ambulance Association. She presented checks amounting to $250 to the association on Aug. 1.
"I wanted to give it to the ambulance, instead of getting presents," said the 7-year-old Hegins philanthropist, a daughter of Mark and Tena Maurer.
"This is a first," said HAAA President Dave Bohner, who accepted Emma's donation on behalf of the association. Although he's served as president more than two years, and volunteered several years throughout the 1990s, Bohner couldn't recall another similar contribution from such a young donor.
"This has me amazed. That little lady's going to go far with that attitude," Bohner said.
Bohner offered Emma a trip around the block and parking lot, with her seated inside the ambulance. He also demonstrated how responders could use different sizes of stethoscopes on board, based on a patient's age or size; and how a powerized gurney system worked to efficiently get patients in and out of the vehicle. Emma also received a tour of the ambulance operations building and garage. Bohner showed her and her family the newly expanded kitchen facilities and social hall, the crew living room, the renovated restroom where a shower was added and the ambulance offices.
This fall, Bohner said, HAAA would like to expand training for EMTs. The association would also like to acquire EpiPens-epinephreine auto-injectors to help treat life-threatening allergic reactions and CPAP equipment-continuous positive airway pressure equipment.
"We always are in need of more volunteers," he said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer with the ambulance association or contribute, may call 570-682-3598 or send a check to: Hegins Area Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 678, Valley View, PA 17983.
In addition to Bohner, others serving the HAAA are Senior Vice President Bill Conrad, Vice President Sandy Poletti, Treasurer Chuck Fultz; and 14 board members.
"I liked going for a ride inside the ambulance," Emma said following her donation.
When asked to describe Emma's seemingly compassionate demeanor, her mother confirmed that her daughter has always been a gentle, caring child. "We had talked about some of the organizations here in the community, and when we talked it through, she said she wanted to give the money to the ambulance because they help people when they're sick," Tena Maurer said.
"I know how important it is to have these types of services," her mother said.
Besides her donation to the ambulance, Emma's interest in her community also includes being a Girl Scout with Service Unit 329, where she'll transition from a Daisy to a Brownie this year. She will enter Hegins-Hubley Elementary School this fall as a second-grader, and enjoys playing soccer, basketball and softball.
Emma's family includes her parents and 14-month-old brother, Daxton; and grandparents, Leon and Linda Maurer, Hegins; and Ike Miller, Williamstown, and the late Fern Miller.