LYNNWOOD—Support 7 unveiled its newest emergency response vehicle on Tuesday, November 12, which will support first responders, victims and families experiencing trauma by offering a safe space away from the elements, media and public eye. It will also provide access to critical services when disaster hits.
The 2024 model RV has a Winnebago box with a Mercedes chassis equipped with a solar panel, charging stations, a Murphy bed, and restroom located in the back. Support 7 estimates the rig will be used about 5-8 times a month to respond to crises.
The unveiling of Support 7’s new rig came at a push-in and dedication ceremony located at South County Fire’s Station 21 in Lynnwood on Tuesday, November 12, where former Lynnwood City Councilwoman and Support 7 Executive Director Shannon Sessions shared some words alongside South County Union Firefighters Local1828 President Pat Moore, and Support 7 Founder Ken Gaydos’ two children, Kristin and Tim.
“This new rig represents such a variety in diversity for support in our partners, individuals, and organizations we serve,” said Sessions. “And it really speaks volumes to the critical work we have had the opportunity to do in this community.”
The decision to deploy the first generation of Support 7 Emergency Response Vehicles (nicknamed the Guppy and was in commission from 1995 through 2002) stemmed from a tragic event on the Edmonds Waterfront in 1981 when a man named David Smith lost his life due to a diving accident. Support 7 Founder Ken Gaydos thought in that moment that his organization needed a way to bring victims out of the elements, out of the media, and away from the public eye while offering them a private, heated, comfortable shelter to grieve and have access to critical resources.
Gaydos passed away in September of 2018 after a long battle with cancer. He was known to be the first person to respond when a call came in. Those who knew him well said he was dedicated to his faith and had a gentle sense of peace and compassion which reached victims and first responders far and wide. A plaque honoring Gaydos’ legacy will be displayed within Support 7’s new Emergency Response Vehicle.
“I would always hear dad say that it’s foolish to try and satisfy spiritual needs with physical, and the opposite is true too. When someone is hungry and cold they don’t need a lecture on grace they just need a dinner and a warm blanket,” said Ken’s daughter Kirstin. “I want to extend our deepest expressions and gratitude and appreciation for the partnerships so many of you had with us that allows the ministry of Support 7 to be so meaningful in the lives of so many, especially to those who come to us hurting and broken.”
To pay homage to David Smith, the diver who lost his life in 1981, Support 7’s new vehicle displays a heart on the side of the RV with a QR code which directs people to his story on the nonprofit’s website.
Speaking at Tuesday’s push-in and dedication ceremony was David Smith’s sister, Cindy, who shared how Ken Gaydos stayed with her and her family all day after that fateful accident and even invited them over to his house for dinner.
“I want to thank Shannon and Support 7 for honoring my brother on this special day, it’s very meaningful to my family and I, and I want to thank Support 7 for all that you do to support not only families like mine, and victims, but also first responders,” said Cindy.
The second generation of Support 7 Emergency Response Vehicles operated from 2002 through 2024. Sessions informed the Lynnwood Times that Support 7 is planning to sell the decommissioned vehicle “at a fair price,” hopefully to another nonprofit with similar values.
The total cost of Support 7’s newest vehicle was approximately $200,000 according to Sessions paid for entirely by donations from South County Union Firefighters Local 1828 ($160,000), the Lynnwood Kiwanis Club ($20,000), North Sound Church ($15,000), Garneau Nicon Family Foundation ($15,000), The Walker Foundation ($12,000), and more than $35,000 in total from individual donations.
In Kiwanis of Lynnwood’s 60 years of serving the community, its $20,000 donation to the Support 7 emergency response vehicle has been the largest donation the organization have ever been able to provide, the Lynnwood Kiwanis Club informed the Lynnwood Times.
“It’s because we know the ministry and the service that’s being fulfilled and with this rig, as beautiful as it is, it’s going to help a lot of people during crises times in their life,” Larry Merwin, Lynnwood Kiwanis Club Board Member, informed the Lynnwood Times. “We’re happy to be able to support this particular club because it’s so meaningful to the community and that’s what Lynnwood Kiwanis Club is about – serving the community.”
These donations also helped pay for the wrap and graphics by Printing Plus in Mountlake Terrace, and additional services provided by Menzel Installations, Brooks Products and Services, and the Design Paige.
“This has set us up to be more sustainable than ever and will bless first responders, victims, and families during traumatic events for than 15 to 20 years in the future,” said Sessions.
A push-in ceremony is a tradition the fire service industry has practiced since fire engines were horse-drawn in the early 1900’s. At the end of the day these horse-drawn engines would be “pushed in” to the fire station by the community and fire fighters which has now become a ceremonious tradition for firefighting agencies whenever introducing a new fire engine to symbolize the unity between the community and the fire department.
For more than 40 years Support 7 has partnered with local first responders and assists them as well as victims in moments of crisis such as unexpected natural deaths, death by suicide, homicide and other fatalities. It provides individuals a private place with water and snacks where they can step away from the crisis, onlookers, and potential media they may not want to deal with at the moment. Support 7 also provides a connection to other resources like grief counselors, funeral services, medical examiner office, etc.
Support 7 offers assistance to South County Fire, Mukilteo Fire, Paine Field Fire, as well as eight other law enforcement agencies including Lynnwood PD, Edmonds PD, Mountlake Terrace PD, Brier PD, Woodway PD, Mill Creek PD, Mukilteo PD, and the South Precinct of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The nonprofit also has chaplains within 911 dispatch and the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.
It gets its name from the Greek word paraclete, which means counselor, advocate, or helper, and the number seven which refers to “God’s perfect order of creation,” according to Founder Ken Gaydos’ daughter Kristin.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
