Connect With Your Community!
Connect With Your Community!
Three Forks Area Ambulance volunteers are pictured with the Stryker Power Load Cot they received with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from Gallatin County in December 2023. File photo
Three Forks Area Ambulance is hosting a fundraiser later this week.
The event, which will take place on Saturday, June 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sawdust and Steel Brewing at 123 W. Elm in Three Forks, will include a raffle and silent auction to raise money for the service.
Barbara Mutter with Three Forks Area Ambulance (TFAA) discussed the importance of the event.
According to Barbara Mutter, the non-profit service has responded to an average of 320 calls per year in the past five years.
Mutter said no taxes are levied to fund the service, which is an all-volunteer crew. It is funded exclusively through insurance billings, donations, and some grants.
Mutter added that the TFAA serves over 500 miles, including the City of Three Forks, Three Forks Rural Fire District, Willow Creek Rural Fire District, Southern Broadwater County, and pockets of Jefferson County.
"All the proceeds of this Charitable Fundraiser and Raffle will benefit the Three Forks Area Ambulance Service," said Mutter. "The medical supplies and equipment being purchased will help us continue to provide the highest quality of emergency medical care to you and the communities we serve."
TFAA will be selling raffle tickets for $20 a ticket or $6 for $100. The first prize is half a beef, and the second and third prizes are each a quarter of beef from the KG Ranch that will be custom-cut and wrapped at Feddes Family Meats.
Mutter said only 1,000 tickets will be sold, and the beef prizes will be raffled off at halftime of the Three Forks Rodeo on July 20.
The silent auction items include camping gear, jewelry from Montana SilverSmith's, and a year's membership from Lifeflight. Dinners from Mobile Mike's Food to Go and items from Sawdust and Steel will also be given away at the event.
Mutter said the ambulance grant they received in October 2021 is finally coming this summer, and they will be getting a 2024 Ford F450 unit from Apgar Ambulances in Kalispell.
"However, the ARPA funds that Three Forks Area Ambulance also received in early 2022 to pay for needed medical equipment did not go as far as we thought. The cost of supplies and equipment has tripled. Plus, the cost of lights, retractable steps, and graphics has doubled on the new ambulance," Mutter said.
Donations are tax-deductible, and a donation receipt will be provided upon request.
To purchase Three Forks Area Ambulance raffle tickets, please call Mutter at 406-209-3417 or Jeri at 406-285-3554.
