RCC receives donation from Mountaire Farms

Robeson Community College received a much-needed donation from Mountaire Farms on Friday, March 11. The fast-growing agricultural food processing company donated a Stryker EMS stretcher, a gift valued at $5,000.  

If the college had purchased this equipment brand new, it would have cost approximately anywhere between $12,000-$13,000.

You might ask, why would Mountaire Farms have a stretcher traditionally used in hospitals and ambulances?

“We have an entire nursing station, where we have RNs and LPNs, who are there just in case anything happens,” explained Jarrod Lowery, the community relations manager for Mountaire Farms.

“Throughout the years we have bought different equipment, but as time goes along, there is some equipment that you just don’t need any more and this was one of those, and that’s why it is practically brand new. If we are not going to use it, what better place to give it to than Robeson Community College to train the next generation of first responders,” stated Lowery.

Lowery says that Mountaire Farms is dedicated to the community and is always seeking ways to assist its partners.

“We want to continue to grow our partnerships in the area, every chance that we get…that’s why we reached out to Robeson Community College first to see if this was something that they would need,” said Lowery.

Brad Lawson said that the equipment was definitely something that they needed.

“We will get this ready to put out on the truck,” Lawson told Lowery, referring to the ambulances the college uses for training students. “Anytime you want to give us something, we will find a good use for it.”

During the donation, Lawson and Lowery spoke of a new hire at Mountaire who helped make the connection to RCC. The new hire has completed the BLS Instructor course through RCC’s Continuing Education program.

“Mountaire Farms employs our students, so this donation is representative of how Mountaire has come full circle by not only providing valuable resources for our classrooms but also offering jobs to our graduates,” said RCC President Melissa Singler. “We are so appreciative of the partnership with Mountaire. It is evident that Mountaire is invested in Robeson Community College and the community.”

Jessica Bullard with the RCC Foundation agreed, saying, “We are grateful for the continued support of Mountaire Farms to Robeson Community College. They have been instrumental in partnering with the Foundation on donations that will assist us in providing state-of-the-art training for our students.”