Medical Equipment Available
Walkers, Canes, Crutches, Wheelchairs, Commodes
Contact: Amy at Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service
610-367-2330 press option #2 and leave a message
The Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service
The Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service was founded in 1941 by Earl H. Keim, the president of the Lions Club of Boyertown at the time. The organization started with 21 members and by the end of the year, they had a total of 44 members. They began a fundraising drive and received donations from individuals and businesses of the community. They held weekend peach and ice cream festivals on the East Third St church property to help raise funds for the organization. The first ambulance was to be a Ford chassis, modified by Boyertown Auto Body Works, Inc. which was housed and dedicated in the founding year. Burgess Roy F. Schealer accepted the first ambulance on behalf of the community. The first corps of drivers consisted of 14 men who responded to 81 calls that year. The total cost of the operation was $1,200.
In 1948, the Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance was incorporated as a non-profit organization by the Berks County Court. The second ambulance was purchased. It was a Chevrolet chassis that was again modified by Boyertown Auto Body, Inc. at total cost of $4,800. The first custom-built, all-purpose Packard was purchased in 1951. Its cost was $7,685 and a fund drive was started to offset the cost of this purchase. The goal was to raise $4,800, but the drive ended up netting $5,201.50.
In 1953, a lot at Third St and Chestnut St was purchased for $2,700 which was to be used to construct the new first aid center.
Another fund drive was started to help raise funding for the new building. The goal this time was $23,000, but the drive netted $24,634.58. The ground was broken in March for the new building. The construction was completed in the fall at a total cost of $23,978.81. Fundraising activities were announced in 1954 to cover the expense of operating the facilities. The contributions during the first year were $807.75 with contributions increasing to $905.75 the second year.
The excitement of the adventure continued in 1956 when two-way radios were installed in the ambulances. The Borough of Boyertown established the emergency center which would dispatch both the ambulance and fire companies in a time of emergency. The United Community Chest start to make substantial allocations to fund these operations.
In 1960 and 1965, Pontiac ambulances were purchased to replace the aging fleet costing $9,350 and $9,700 respectively. Then 1967 marked the 25th year of service to the community. The organization responded to 6,179 calls in that time period.
The first Cadillac ambulance was ordered in 1969. It was delivered at a price of $10,570. C. S. Garber & Sons, Inc. would donate a first-aid Sno-Cruser Emergency Unit in 1972.
A second Cadillac was acquired as well at a cost of $14,900. The latest Cadillac would be purchased and placed in service in 1975.
In 1996 Boyertown Lions Club launched a fund drive to raise $250,000.00 towards the cost of constructing a new ambulance building. Ground-breaking ceremony was held in May of 1997 for the new ambulance building at Second and Warwick Streets. The new ambulance building was completed and dedicated on May 9, 1998. Total cost as approximately $750,000.00.
The fleet of vehicles continued to age and the Cadillac’s would be replaced by Ford vehicles in 1979 and 1982. The cost of the ambulances and equipment with trade-in was $35,085. The cost of the operation had risen to $23,607.
In 1987, the call volume had increased to 607 in a year. The cost of operations continued to grow to $46,377.88. A new ambulance was purchased in 1987 at a cost of $48,000 with trade-in. In 1991, a new high in call volume was reached, 769 calls.
In 2005, Boyertown Community Ambulance Service decided to take the next step in providing care to the community, by becoming certified as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) organization.
In 2018, the PA Department of Health recognized the Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service Inc (now DBA Boyertown Community Ambulance Service) as the Top EMS Agency for its size in Pennsylvania.
