“Shirts for Charity” Supports Local Mental Health Outreach

Oswego, NY – December 27, 2022) Hawaiian was the shirt of choice for the “Shirts for Charity” program through Menter Ambulance as they raised over $500 to support local mental health outreach offered by the Oswego Health Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team.

For many years, Zachary Menter, President and CEO of Menter Ambulance has financially supported local community initiatives that benefit individuals and organizations throughout Oswego County. This year, Mr. Menter proposed a plan that would allow employee participation in local philanthropic efforts which resulted in the “Shirts for Charity” program being born, allowing staff to donate to wear a themed shirt.  Other beneficiaries of the 2022 “Shirts for Charity” program included Blessings in a Backpack, the Oswego Bookmobile, the Oswego County Humane Society, and the Hastings Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This year, it was a unanimous vote by Menter Ambulance employees to support the outreach of the Oswego Health ACT Team. The ACT Team is a mobile, multi-disciplinary, mental health team, which offers various support services and delivers comprehensive, person-centered treatment and rehabilitation to individuals over the age of 18 with severe and persistent mental illness. Services include help and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either in the individuals’ homes, neighborhoods, or workplaces. In addition to the ACT Team, Oswego Health offers mental health services for ages 5+.  For more information call 315-326-4100. 

According to Zachary Menter, President and CEO of Menter Ambulance, “Supporting the ACT program was an easy decision.  The pre-hospital care providers at Menter Ambulance deal with an overwhelming number of patients in our community with persistent mental illness. The ACT program serves a vital role by ensuring the necessary services are available to these patients.  The staff at Menter Ambulance hopes the donation brings both awareness and support to the ACT program.”

Margaret Barclay, Executive Director of the Oswego Health Foundation shares, “Caring for the community takes collaboration. The support and partnership with Menter Ambulance is critical especially when it comes to mental health services. We are so grateful for their donation.”

If you or someone you know needs support now and is in a crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org to connect with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

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Photo caption: From the left: Director of Operations of Menter Ambulance Nate Smith, Executive Vice President & COO of Oswego Health Mike Backus, President and CEO of Menter Ambulance Zach Menter, Kayla Backes, Shauntelle Morgan, Marlene Sawyer, Drew Clavelli and Tammy Lenchert  

About Menter Ambulance:

Menter Ambulance is a privately owned ambulance service located in Oswego County.  The service has been in existence since 1952 and currently has bases of operations in Fulton, Oswego, and Central Square, and provides service to many surrounding municipalities.  The service provides Advanced Life Support emergency ambulance transport, and non-emergent transportation.  The mission of Menter Ambulance is to provide high quality, effective prehospital care to the residents of Oswego County. For more information about Menter ambulance, visit our website at www.menteramb.com.

About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system that was established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to continue to be one of Oswego County’s largest employers. More than 1,200 employees spread throughout its 17 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services; and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, Oswego Health includes the Oswego Health captive professional corporation, Physician Care P.C., providing physician services in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, audiology, general surgery, bariatrics, and primary care. For more information about Oswego Health, please visit our website at  www.oswegohealth.org.