Atlanta Rotary gives life saving equipment to the Country Aire Restaurant

[May 02, 2019]     On Tuesday, the Atlanta Rotary Club presented Country Aire Restaurant owner Nick Bekteshi and staff with a new portable defibrillator for emergency use at the restaurant. The gift to the restaurant was made possible through a grant from the Atlanta Betterment Fund with matching funds coming from the Rotary club.

Rotary president Chris Coyne wrote the grant application for the defibrillator on behalf of the Rotary seeking help with the purchase of the life-saving equipment to be given to the restaurant. The Betterment Fund awarded the Rotary $500. The Rotary then contributed $614 to cover the full cost of the machine.

The Atlanta Betterment Fund awards a number of small grants annually to local clubs and organizations. This year 10 grants were awarded, with the grant to the Rotary being one.

Bekteshi and three of his staff members; Joy Slader, Tonya White and Ann Froman went through training on how to operate the machine provided by Atlanta Rescue Squad Chief Josh Polley. Polley offered a demonstration of the device with staff and Rotary members present on Tuesday.

The gift of the defibrillator comes from a suggestion made by Rotarian Doug Thompson. The machine, according to Bekteshi and staff, is a very much appreciated gift. On Tuesday, the restaurant owner and staff indicated that there had been some occasions in the past where the machine could have been beneficial. They are all grateful that now, should an emergency occur at the restaurant they have the proper tools and proper training to help.

[Karen Hargis/Nila Smith]