Ministry seeks funds for ambulance

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE A ministry based in this city is trying to make a difference in the medical care of rural villages in the African nation of Ghana.

Milestone Ministries is raising funds to buy and ship a re-conditioned ambulance to Ghana where the time that it takes to transport an ill person to the nearest hospital is literally a matter of life and death.

Jack Desroches, the pastor of Milestone Ministries, explained this is the first time the non-profit religious organization has tackled a project of this size. Established in 2003, Desroches explained that the ministry helps provide services to youth in Chicopee, raises money for clothing for local homeless people, and supports the work of other churches.

Desroches is friends with Pastor Yaw Adjei, an immigrant from Ghana who lives in New Jersey. Adjei recounted an incident when he was 15 years-old of helping to transport an ill woman to a hospital only eight miles away. Because of inadequate transportation, the woman was forced to wait for a ride to the hospital and died when she was three miles from her destination.

He said that Adjei is committed to helping his homeland and Desroches wants to join in that effort.

Desroches discovered a new Jersey-based company that sells reconditioned ambulances. The firm is moving, he said, and is forced to sell off its inventory at a greatly reduced rate. Originally, the price was $5,000 for the ambulance and $2,000 for the shipping. Desroches said he recently learned the price has been reduced to $3,000 per ambulance and is trying to raise enough money to pay for two vehicles plus their shipping.

He is trying to reach his goal by the end of the month and is asking the public to consider donating. He is accepting checks made out to "Milestone Ministries" with the words "ambulance fund" in the memo. The donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to Milestone Ministries, 165 Front St., Building D, Fourth Floor, Chicopee, MA 01013.