Wyn Delano
WMAL.com
ROCKVILLE, MD (WMAL) — The Rockville volunteer fire department is hosting a “stuff a truck” event today to benefit other first responders in Harvey-stricken regions of Texas.
Eric Bernard, president of the Rockville volunteer fire department, says that “some [first responders] have been continuing to work – some of them continous 24-hour shifts and have been unable to take care of their family and their property.”
Bernard says that those EMTs, firefighters, police, and others reached out and this is just Rockville fire responding to the call.
The donations, which have a very strict and regimented list that can be viewed here, will be collected in two large trailers from 10AM to 8PM at St. Mary’s Church in Rockville on Veirs Mill Rd.
This strictness is intentional, according to Bernard, in an attempt to avoid an all-too-familiar sight in disaster zones:
“We see trailers of materials rot for months after a disaster because there’s nobody there to unload it…people use opportunities like this to feel good where they give used clothes or stuff they don’t need anymore that’s not sorted – there’s nobody on the ground to [sort it],” he said.
And with simple and (unexpected) items such as bleach completely out of stock for 200 miles out of the city, events like this one in Rockville attempt to fill the gap by going local, rather than going big.
For those who take care of others as a profession, its a gesture both of solidarity and gratitude.
Copyright 2017 WMAL.com All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Rockville VFD)
hosting a ‘stuff a truck event’ friday/today
collecting donations for first responders in the houston area affected by hurricane harvey
police, emt, fire officals have been working 24 hour shifts..unable to take care of thier own families and property following hurricane harvey and the rockville fire department is responding to specific requests for help.including gift cards, bleach, rubbermaid type storage containers, water, non perishable food, gatorade, new (not used) t-shirts and underwear and toiletry items
