Sometimes surplus property can be a blessing to another. We all know the adage that the one mans junk is another’s treasure. In Breezy Point we didn’t have junk but did have something of value to another organization that was needed. What we are talking about was AED’s. These are Automatic External Defibulators. These units provide a shock to people to help restart their heart in the event of a heart attack. The police department carries these units. The ones that were surplus were useable but needed batteries. They also were not compatible with the systems used by North Medical. The city was able to replace these with newer units making these units surplus.
The city was contacted by a non-profit organization called Lets Go Fishing. This organization has started a Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter about 2 years ago. They have a pontoon boat and take seniors and others fishing who would not otherwise be able to do this. They take 14 out at a time twice a day Monday through Friday, May through September. Given the type of clientele they serve they wanted to carry AED units without the resources to pay for them. They had focused their fishing on Gull, Rice and Bay Lakes but will now start on Pelican as well.
They contacted the city to inquire about the units and the city council agreed to provide for the donation. The organization will be responsible for the batteries and maintenance of these units but don’t have the larger cost to purchase them. This is a win-win situation for all involved. We are fortunate to be able to provide surplus property to an organization that can use it and potentially save lives in the process. The organization benefits in obvious reasons. It doesn’t get much better than this.
