YVAC Members Answer Call of Service in Yorktown

Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (YVAC) has two new members – volunteers Joseph Troia and Kevin Costello – who are dedicated to community service and passionate about helping people in need. 

Both Yorktown men – Troia, 18 and Costello, 19 – started volunteering with the Youth Corps group when they were 14 and 16 years old, respectively. They continued their service until recently getting certified and joining the senior group. 

"YVAC taught me more about responsibility and being a leader," Troia told Patch. "After four years I knew where I was headed. I knew that being a first responder was unlike many other jobs out there. It really feels great to be able to help in an emergency."

Costello said he joined YVAC's Youth Group because he wanted to perform community service and loved the experience. Now, a college sophomore, he plans to continue his studies to become a paramedic. 

"It has been an excellent, exciting learning experience," said Costello, a Yorktown High School graduate. "The duties have been as varied as riding as a Youth Group cadet, dispatching calls, and responding to calls as an EMT."

Troia said his interest in the field was sparked by chance by his grandfather, who at the time was the head of crisis management at NBC Universal Studios in Manhattan. He worked alongside NYPD, homeland security, FEMA and the New York City office of emergency management.

Troia was 7 years old when his grandfather would bring him along to work.

"It was there that I got introduced to a vast majority of different professionals with all interesting jobs," Troia said. "One day my grandpa brought home one of his scanners from work. I turned it on just to check it out. I started hearing everything that was going on in the area and that was one of the coolest things I heard."

One of the first things he heard was from the Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Fast forward to a few years later, Troia stopped by YVAC where he was greeted by Tina Harbach. She handed him an application and told him that YVAC was a great organization. 

The rest is history.

"The experience has been more rewarding and enjoyable than anything I have done," said Troia, a Lakeland High School graduate. "It is great to be with friends that become almost family and go out to help the public at their time of need."

When he is not volunteering at YVAC, Troai enjoys spending time with his family. He is the oldest of 6 children – he has 3 brothers and two sisters – and said that family is important to him. 

Costello said he has responded to various calls and some of the most memorable for his have been motor vehicle accidents and cardiac arrests. He enjoy the outdoors when he is not working at YVAC and continues his studies to be a paramedic. 

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YVAC is always looking to recruit more members who would answer numerous emergency calls and offer a number of services to Yorktown residents. The loan closet includes canes, walkers, crutches and wheelchairs that can be borrowed by those in need. They also hold a blood bank twice or three times a year when people can donate blood. They also respond to 911 service calls in the same area as the Yorktown Heights Fire Department covering 30 square miles. 

High school students could also get involved and volunteer. The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Youth Group serves as an auxiliary to the Corps. Those 14-18 year old students are trained in CPR, First Aid, with some as New York State Certified First Responders.

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To become a member of the Yorktown Ambulance Volunteer Corps call Rich Cariello at 914-469-5197. You can also fill out an application in person at their headquarters on Loretta Street or fill out their online application by clicking here.