There's a lot of work and dedicated staff behind the Karns City Regional Ambulance Service's new set of wheels.

The service was formed in 2018 when the volunteer fire departments in Chicora and Petrolia could no longer afford to operate separate ambulance services. It inherited two older ambulances in the merger and no ready funding source, said Kandi Nassy, secretary of the ambulance service board.

“The older units became hard to keep up with ... so we got a grant from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, took out a loan and started the (unit) this week,” Nassy said.

The service will unveil the new ambulance at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the borough building during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Nassy said the goal of the event is to get the word out about the ambulance service and its need for support.

“It's to make anybody aware that the ambulance service is still here,” Nassy said.

According to Nassy, the service is operated by dedicated individuals.“Some people will work a 40-hour shift,” Nassy said. “(We'll accommodate) whatever they can volunteer for.”Amy McConnell, director of operations at the ambulance service, has been involved since its creation. She said they are struggling with staffing and fundraising alike.“Other services are having issues,” McConnell said. “EMS is a dying field. People are not going to school for it.”The singular service covers all territory formerly attributed to Petrolia and Chicora's services. Karns City Regional serves Petrolia, Bruin, Fairview Township, Fairview Borough, Karns City, Chicora, Clearfield Township, Concord Township and Washington Township.Call capacity has increased for the service since COVID-19 began. According to McConnell, last month they received 85 calls. Most calls they answered pertained to cardiac issues, difficulty breathing and other COVID-19 symptoms.“It's very hard right now with COVID,” McConnell said. “We're covering our own calls and even some neighboring ones.”According to McConnell, most of her staff work a job in addition to the ambulance service.“(Staff) are really working 48- to 60-hour shifts, going from job to job,” McConnell said.

Since ambulances are no longer affiliated with volunteer fire departments, the service cannot share in those funds, Nassy said. The service operates on fundraisers and the ambulance's coverage of Karns City football games.“We currently operate out of the fire station's office,” Nassy said. “But we have to pay to rent (that) space.”McConnell said there's a need for volunteers to help with fundraising. She said ideas are welcome on how to generate more money.Those attending the unveiling ceremony will have an opportunity to offer support through donations and to sign up for the ambulance subscription service. Signing up for subscription service can assist with costs should the subscriber call for ambulance services.A number of officials from surrounding municipalities, county commissioners and state representatives have been invited to the Wednesday event. Nassy and McConnell encourage others in the community to also come out to see the new ambulance.“The goal is awareness and support,” McConnell said of the event. “It's to make our job easier.”