11th Annual Boron Senior Center BBQ Fundraiser, May 23

Mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch while supporting a great cause. Join your local Hall Ambulance Paramedics and EMTs on May 23 as they host the 11th Annual Boron Senior Center BBQ Fundraiser.

Enjoy wood-fired tri-tip and chicken served with coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and baked beans for just $5 for members of the senior center and $10 for non-members.

To make it easier for surrounding businesses and employees who are not able to dine at the center, take-out orders are being accepted. Call (760) 762-5501 before 10 a.m. on May 23, and volunteers will have your meals ready for pick-up at lunchtime. They are asking that you speak with someone to place your order as voicemail messages will not be retrieved.

The relationship between the ambulance crews and the local senior population flourished from early on. The Boron Senior Center would invite the crews to stop by and enjoy lunch in appreciation of the EMS services they provide to the community. In return, the ambulance personnel started providing complimentary blood pressure checks during the program's hot lunch meals served on Thursdays. Wanting to do more, Paramedic Ken Sexton and EMT Donnie Self decided to start an annual BBQ hosted by the ambulance crews assigned to Post 17 in Boron. These community servants took it upon themselves to plan the event, prepare the meals and cover the cost through employee donations.

The project received statewide accolades last December when Sexton and Self were recognized with Community Service Award medals at the California EMS Awards in San Francisco. In addition, Certificates of Commendation were presented to Paramedic Field Supervisors Steve Prater, Mike Zapiain and Scott Morgan; Relief Supervisor James Metzger, and EMT Manuel Martinez for their contributions.

"We started the barbecue for the seniors to give back to them. They are in their golden years and deserve to be respected," Sexton said.