Monee residents with essential medical equipment can feel a little more secure during the next power outage, courtesy of a local businessman’s donation of power generators.
Twenty-one generators worth more than $34,000 were donated last week by James Reveliotis with Polaris/Gina’s Motorsports of Monee to the Village of Monee Emergency Management Agency and the Monee Fire Protection District.
“The generators will be used for area residents that are on medical equipment during prolonged power outages,” said EMA Director Randy Ulaskas.
“This is a textbook example of the private and public sector working together for the entire community.
“Monee Fire will maintain a current list of residents in need, and Monee EMA will store, maintain and deploy the generators as needed,” he added.
“I am not aware of another agency having a program of this magnitude. Many residents who have lifesaving devices at home such as heart pumps and oxygen support systems will be able to stay in their homes during prolonged power outages and not have to relocate their necessary and sensitive medical equipment.”
Scott Youdris, Monee village trustee for public safety, agreed.
“I continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community,” he said.
“Jim’s donation shows his commitment and love he has for Monee. These generators will provide a sense of security for the members of our community that truly rely on medical machines such as oxygen to survive.
“As we saw with the storms we experienced this summer, some residents were left without power for many days. A donation like this can be lifesaving.
“Between EMA and our fire district, we can now offer a much stronger hand of support. I can’t thank Jim and Gina’s Motor Sports enough.”
Tracey Henson, spokesperson for Gina’s Motorsports and an EMA volunteer, said the aftermath from the storms last summer spurred a desire to help the community to “be prepared in the future.”
“I am proud to work for Gina’s Motorsports, whose owner Jim Reveliotis is committed to giving to his community, not just this time, but also year ‘round,” she said, “And also cares for the Village of Monee and its residents.”