(Courtesy of the Office of Josh Gottheimer) On Sunday, May 22, during National EMS Week, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps’ (TVAC) Annual Awards Ceremony to honor EMS volunteers for services they performed going above and beyond the call of duty to help save the lives across North Jersey.

Those receiving awards include Ezra Finkelstein, the 2021 Member of the Year, who had four lifesaving CPR calls in 2021 and responded to nearly 1,000 calls last year; Israel Infield, receiving a Life Membership Award; Eric Orgen, who achieved 2,500 lifetime calls; Pete Philomey, who achieved 3,000 lifetime calls; and Joe MacDiarmid, a Walter Pinches Memorial EMS Leadership Award recipient, Marine veteran and member of the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps for more than 15 years with 458 calls in 2021 alone.

Also recognized were volunteer EMS members Amiel Rimberg, Rivka Farrel, Avraham Walkenfeld and Aaron Singer for helping with the birth of a baby boy.

The Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps is the only emergency medical ambulance service for the township of Teaneck and provides services to any member of its diverse population.

“Members of the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps are our neighbors, family and friends who tirelessly work day in and day out. They spend countless hours training and practicing for what could be the worst day of our lives—and they are always there when we need them most,” said Gottheimer. “To our first responders, for all that you’ve done for our community, I will always have your backs.”

Gottheimer has helped claw back resources and equipment to help fire departments, EMTs, law enforcement, and beyond. The Fifth District is up more than 112% in the federal tax dollars clawed back to Jersey from Washington and away from the “Moocher States” since 2016.

These dollars help ensure that first responders have the resources they need, and takes a major financial weight off of town and county budgets to help lower the property tax burden on families.

National EMS Week was May 15 to May 21.