Serving Our Community, Building Friendships

Melissa Campbell | Squad Captain 2014 – 2025

I have been a volunteer at The Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad since 2010. I started volunteering with the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad because I wanted to do something meaningful for my community. What I did not fully understand at the beginning was how much the Squad would become part of my life.

Over the years, I have served as an EMT, a Crew Chief, and Captain. Each role has taught me something different. As an EMT, I learned how important it is to stay calm, focused, and ready to help people on what may be one of the hardest days of their lives. As a Crew Chief, I learned how much teamwork matters. As Captain, I saw firsthand how much work happens behind the scenes to keep a volunteer organization moving.

It is not just answering calls. It is keeping schedules together. It is helping members find where they fit. It is making sure people feel supported, trained, and able to keep showing up.

That work is not always glamorous. Most of it happens quietly. But it matters.

I have volunteered while working full-time, raising a family, running a household, and managing all the normal demands of life. Like many volunteers, I had to make the choice over and over again to keep showing up. Some days were easier than others. But I stayed because the work mattered, the people mattered, and the community depended on us.

The Squad has given me more than I ever expected. It gave me skills, friendships, responsibility, and the chance to be part of something bigger than myself.

Volunteering here is not always easy. It takes time, commitment, and patience. But it is deeply rewarding. You become part of a team that shows up for people when they need help most.

That is why I volunteer. Because this community is worth showing up for, and because being part of this Squad has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.