Melanie Manning, 29, does it all. She’s an accountant for Neptune Township, mother to a six-year-old daughter, and captain and EMT for the Neptune First Aid Squad, a division of Neptune Township EMS.
“My favorite part about being a volunteer is giving back, but also being able to do it on my own time,” said Melanie.
Melanie, a lifelong Neptune resident, recalls how her parents instilled the importance of giving back to their community and helping those in need.
“Volunteering is in my blood. My mother was with Neptune First Aid for about 10 years, and my father remains heavily involved in Neptune Township, serving on many boards and as Fire Commissioner,” said Melanie.
Melanie has been a volunteer since 2014 and has formed countless relationships that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Neptune Township EMS. Some of her fondest memories include spending time with other volunteers at the station and community events. Another stand-out benefit of being involved with the organization is the exceptional training.
“Neptune Township EMS shows passion when it comes to training. Our EMS coordinators always make it a priority to have large-scale training exercises, so that we can all train together and incorporate our different skills while learning new ones,” said Melanie.
Neptune Township EMS also goes out of its way to provide advanced certifications to its members. In fact, Melanie recently obtained the Peer Support Specialist certification to support other first responders with mental health or trauma-related issues.
“I have learned how to help others cope with difficult experiences, whether it be from a tough emergency call one responded to, a death or any personal issues happening at home. This has helped me outside of the EMS world by teaching me how to deal with my problems without the stress burdening me and knowing that it is okay not to be okay sometimes,” she stated.
Neptune Township EMS offers several seasonal and year-round volunteer opportunities, and no prior experience is needed to join. Training and gear are also provided at no cost.
“Volunteering is very rewarding to me especially because I am giving back to the community that I was raised in. It keeps you active and gives you a hobby to do on your own time,” she concluded.
Sign up to volunteer or learn more at www.JoinNeptuneEMS.org/Contact/.