STOCKTON: Rose sale offers two times the bargain

First Aid Squad is holding its third annual Valentine’s Day rose sale

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   STOCKTON — With just about everyone’s wallet taking a beating these days, wouldn’t it be nice if our money could do double duty?
   This Valentine’s Day, it can.
   The Stockton Fire Company First Aid Squad is holding its third annual Valentine’s Day rose sale. The purchase price of $25 for a dozen gives buyers an affordable gift of long-stemmed beauties for their loved ones. At the same time, the rose sale will help the all-volunteer squad raise much-needed funds to help it serve the community.
   The rose sale is the squad’s biggest fundraiser.
   The squad serves Stockton Borough, a large part of Delaware Township and a small portion of Kingwood Township.
   ”It’s extremely important to us,” Third Lt. Kris Nenna said of the rose sale. “We just purchased a new ambulance to better serve our area. It will help to defray the cost of the ambulance and also help us upgrade our equipment.”
   Thanks to the initial success of the fundraiser two years ago, the squad was able to purchase the first automatic stretcher in Hunterdon County, according to Ms. Nenna. She estimated the purchase price was between $10,000 and $12,000.
   ”It helps us with lifting,” she said.
   That was an important purchase because it allows the volunteers to transfer a patient quickly and more efficiently without injuring themselves in the process. Many day-shift volunteers are women, some of them 50 and older. Patients can weigh up to 300 pounds.
   Squad members can raise the stretcher with just the press of a button, easily clip it to the rig, then slide the patient and the stretcher together into the ambulance for quick transport to a medical facility.
   For $25, a buyer can have his choice of a dozen red roses or a dozen pastel-colored roses, all in one shade. If a buyer has a specific color in mind, it would be best to place an order early before the supply runs out.
   Flowers may be picked up Feb. 13 and 14 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Stockton firehouse on Mill Street.
   Orders may be paid for at the time of pickup, although it is preferred that buyers pay in advance.
   Checks should be made out to the Stockton First Aid Squad and mailed to P.O. Box 100, Stockton, 08559.
   To place an order, leave a message for Ms. Nenna at 908-788-4058.
   A buyer should leave his/her name and phone number and state the preferred color of roses. Ms. Nenna will call back to confirm receipt of the order.