The Community Health Education Foundation (CHEF) awarded automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to eight recipients on Oct. 30.

In total, CHEF has donated 115 AEDs to date to area schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations. Recipients are selected annually through an application process.

Those receiving awards included: Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Jonesboro, St. Anthony Catholic Church in Weiner, Brookland Police Department, Pocahontas Police Department, Valley View Missionary Baptist Church, The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas warehouse, Mt. Harmony Baptist Church in Mountain View and Tiger Commissary in Jonesboro. 

In addition to awarding the devices, Scott Moore, owner of Roofing Co., and Austin Vance, announced a donation to the AED Campaign to help provide AEDs to other locations. The donation was made in memory of Austin’s father, David Vance, an employee of Jonesboro Roofing Co. who passed away in March. 

Recipients are encouraged to register the devices on PulsePoint AED, said CHEF Executive Director Emily Lard. To locate AEDs in Craighead County, individuals may download the PulsePoint AED app to identify the closest public access AED for use in an emergency.

CHEF volunteers David Daniel and Pat Wolover presented the AEDs to this year’s recipients.