Volunteering has hit historic lows nationwide, and rural communities are feeling the strain. On this episode of WXXI’s Connections with Evan Dawson, Branchport Keuka Park Fire Department members detail how declining volunteerism is pushing small-town emergency services toward a breaking point — from shrinking EMS crews to rural hospitals at risk of closure.
Guests Bill DiFabio, Matt Kelly, Rebecca Case, Alvin Leid, and Lily Stewart describe the day-to-day pressures facing departments that rely almost entirely on volunteers, and they outline ongoing efforts to recruit and retain new members before the system fractures.
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