The Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps is asking the public for help for a new paramedic. 

It says a second paramedic is needed to help with increased demand.

Deputy Chief Max Goldberg says the department has been responding to an increased number of calls since the beginning of the pandemic. 

It serves Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville.

“As the population increases, we want to be able to keep up with the demand,” says Goldberg.

Due to the uptick in calls, a second paramedic is needed. Unfortunately, the department doesn’t have the funds to move forward.

Most of its yearly budget money went to pay for Personal Protective Equipment. “Because of the increased cost of PPE, it's depleted our funds to pay for our second paramedic,” says Goldberg.

Since the department is not a part of the tax district, it only relies on public donations and a third-party billing system for ambulance transports.

As of Tuesday, it has been able to raise $18,000, thanks to the community’s help on social media. News 12 is told a total of $100,000 is needed to pay for the second paramedic for the year.

According to a member of the volunteer ambulance corps, they put their lives on the line to assist the community when needed, and now they’re hoping the community will return the favor. 

“We love helping you and keeping you safe we're just asking for a little help in return,” says the member.

If the department is unable to acquire the funds, that will leave them with only one paramedic to serve 46,000 people.

The deputy chief wants to remind the public that it makes all the difference, especially when seconds and minutes matter. “To have more staff in the building ready to go out and save lives is crucial,” says Goldberg.