Church receives grant to purchase AED

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – A Dearborn County church is receiving a grant to purchase a life-saving medical device. 

The Dearborn Community Foundation (DCF) has awarded $1,000 to Tanner Valley United Methodist church to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED). 

An AED is a life-saving tool that can be used when someone experiences a cardiac emergency. They are easy to use and can increase the survival rate by 40 percent 

DCF board member Gary Honchell had heard the church wanted to purchase an AED but didn’t have the funds to do so. 

"A lot of people use the church for banquets, weddings and more. Sometimes, they have big crowds but did not have an AED,” said Honchell. “I know from my volunteer firefighting experience that firefighters or EMS can't always get there in time. It's nice to have an AED right there at the church."

The $1,000 grant was made possible through the annual DCF initiative where each board member selects an organization to support. 

Tanner Valley United Methodist Church is located on State Road 1 and serves the Greendale, Guilford, Bright, Hidden Valley and Lawrenceburg area. 

RELATED: Every police car in Franklin and Ripley counties were recently equipped with AED's. Read that story here.