CHOCOWINITY — Chocowinity Emergency Medical Services has received a much needed donation from the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

A check from the Norfolk Southern Foundation in the amount of $1,500 was presented to Shane Grier, captain of Chocowinity EMS. Representing the railroad were James Davis, marketing and sales manager, and Jeff Allen, Raleigh East Norfolk Southern Railroad.

“Their train master here in Chocowinity saw our banner and stopped to see what they could do,” said Grier, referring to the “Save Chocowinity EMS” sign outside the fire department. “We told them we were attempting to buy a quick response vehicle.”

The train master put Grier in touch with Davis, who called and arranged to present the check Aug. 28.

“Any money we get like that doesn’t go into our general fund,” Grier said. “We use it to keep a project going, like buying a quick response vehicle or buying automatic external defibrillators for Chocowinity schools. That’s the machine that shocks your heart in cardiac arrest.”

The generosity of the Norfolk Southern Foundation and other entities is crucial to Chocowinity EMS, according to Grier.

“That’s what keeps us in business,” he explained. “Any support we get we try to tie it back into the community.”

Chocowinity EMS continues to raise funds for a quick response vehicle.

“It’s an SUV staffed with certified paramedics to back up paramedic services that we already have,” Grier said. “When we’re not running calls they will hopefully go out and check on the elderly in the community, at no cost.”

The recent donation takes Chocowinity EMS one step closer to realizing that goal.

“We personally want to thank Norfolk Southern,” Grier said. “Corporations and foundations like that make emergency services better for the citizens of Beaufort County.”