Prince Edward is a great place to live for many reasons. We have the small-town quaintness, two thriving colleges and many helpful volunteers who work to make the community a better place for everyone.

One group of people that aids the county in many ways is the county’s volunteer rescue squad.

The Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad — which is in its 48th year of operation — answers about 280 calls per month and offers Squad Care to local residents.

Squad Care is a program in which residents can pay a one-time fee of $35 and their entire household will be protected against out-of-pocket ambulance fees for one year.

This program not only aids residents in affordability when needing use of an ambulance but also helps with the cost of training squad members.

We commend the rescue squad for working diligently to bring Prince Edward County residents help in serious situations and for its efforts in making ambulance use affordable for citizens who may have to use it during the year.

These volunteers donate and sacrifice their time to make sure citizens suffer as little as possible during an emergency and get the care they need fast.

They see and work in difficult situations that may make some cringe, but they do it to ensure people who need help receive it. They also continuously look for ways to provide more training for their members so that Prince Edward and Farmville will have the best possible care that they can offer.

These and other local rescue squad volunteers deserve credit for the hard work they perform every day and deserve a pat on the back for always striving to make the community a better place — one that’s well cared for.