North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By John Smithson
The 66th Annual North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad Fish Fry last Saturday at Ocean Drive Elementary School was a recipe for success. Hundreds of people from the area served by the rescue squad showed up to help the organization that has served them since 1958.
Chief and Director of Operations for the Rescue Squad Gary Clark has been a member of the squad for seven years but has been their chief for only two months. He knows the importance of the squad and especially the annual fish fry.
“We are a 100 percent all donor-based volunteer rescue squad, so every bit of funding we get comes from the community, donations and especially our annual fish fry held each fall. Funds we receive go to our operational budget. That means funding to operate our ocean rescue service with an amphibious boat, two water rescue trucks and a jet ski.”
“And donations are crucial to our ability to operate two ambulances. All of that is free to the community,” Clark said Saturday.
“We have a 70-member roster of volunteers, which includes seven paramedics, fourteen EMTs and a volunteer support staff that does our community CPR, helps with paperwork and logistics and everything else to keep our operation going. We also have many spouses and friends that also help out, especially at an event like our fish fry.”
Clark spoke again about the community. “We want to thank the community for supporting us. Without this event and other donations, we would not exist. We are your hometown rescue squad. We are here for the community 100 percent,”Clark concluded.
The North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad has been providing free emergency services since it was founded in 1958 and Saturday’s 66th fish fry continues the tradition of public support and the interaction of the squad with the hundreds of people who attend the event each year.
The elementary school cafeteria was filled with families and people who make the fish fry an annual event on their calendar. They were entertained with music, had a chance to buy a 50/50 raffle ticket or bid on items at a silent auction.
They also had the option of eating in the cafeteria or taking out fish or barbecue meals served up by rescue squad members and other community volunteers. Meals were also available by car at the side of the school.
Squad members also prepared the fish with some coating the fish for frying and others busy trying to satisfy the appetites of hundreds of attendees. Young Rescue Squad Explorers sold items at a bake sale or assisted wherever needed, volunteers from the North Myrtle Beach Rotary Club helped serve food and members of the North Myrtle Beach Pilot Club served drinks.
It was simply a community event that was staffed by members of the rescue squad and members and volunteers from the community to save lives. It doesn’t get much better than that.
