KERN COUNTY, Calif. — Wednesday, Hall Ambulance is celebrating 50 years of helping those in the Kern County community, the private ambulance company has been around since 1971.
Usually, Hall Ambulance would do some sort of celebration for this milestone, but this year due to COVID-19 they are unable to, but they still want the community to know that they are honored to serve and help those in need for 50 years and hope to do so for many more.
You have seen them throughout the community helping your friends family, neighbors.
“We are still serving, we are happy to be here, we are so proud to be apart of this community,” said Lavonne Hall, president and CEO, Hall Ambulance.
Wednesday, February 10, Hall Ambulance celebrates 50 years of helping those in need in the Kern County community.
“It was a really big deal for Harvey, after the 45th anniversary, he started making plans for the 50th,” said Hall.
Harvey Hall started Hall Ambulance with only $15,000, two ambulances, and just five employees back in 1971. He served as the Mayor of Bakersfield for 16 years but sadly passed away in 2018.
“It is very bittersweet for me that he isn’t here to see it,” said Hall.
According to his wife, Lavonne Hall, Harvey's love for helping others and getting into the ambulance business all started because of a dare from a friend.
“He saw a friend who was working on an ambulance and he said ‘come on man come along.’ and he said, ‘i don’t know if that’s for me.’ and then he said, ‘oh well, come on I dare you, just come along for the ride.’ and so he rode along and that was it,” added Hall.
Sarah Hague has been working at Hall Ambulance as an EMT for 11 months but grew up seeing Hall Ambulance around her own community, now she is apart of the team.
“Even before working for Hall, I've seen the compassion they have for the community. It is absolutely awesome,” said Hague.
For Hall, the company focuses on three main things; care, compassion, and community, which they call the “Hall Way.”
“That is a way of doing things and a lot of people would think back to when Harvey would about how you go about your day, you give it everything,” added Hall.
While Hall Ambulance can’t celebrate how they usually would due to COVID-19, they are proud to have been able to help the community for 50 years. And while Harvey isn’t here to see it, Lavonne knows he would be so proud.
“He would just be so thankful that we made it to this day and that we were still able to serve the community.”
According to Hall Ambulance, now in 2021, they are able to serve nearly 88% of Kern County with ambulances and critical care.
