From Garrett County Community Action
Garrett County Community Action, the Garrett County Health Department, and various local volunteer fire companies, as well as Crossroads Church, have begun a collaborative initiative in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The new initiative seeks to serve area residents with a stronger volunteer network while increasing the collection and distribution of needed food, face coverings, and other essential resources in response to the virus.
In a recent health department survey, nearly 10% of the replies named having enough food and essential items as a major concern. A large number of replies offered to volunteer.
The Garrett County Health Department has created a portal on its website https://garretthealth.org/community/ for the community to participate in this initiative. Site visitors can access a number of portal options to submit their names to volunteer, donate financial resources, and or donate handmade masks which can slow the spread of the virus.
The portal also has a list of approved shelf-stable food items that we will be accepting.
“Anyone who is interested in helping is strongly encouraged to submit their name through the portal to volunteer, donate, and or get a list of needed preferred food items,” commented Courtni Helmick, who is the lead coordinator for the project at Community Action.
“The response through the portal has been very encouraging and humbling to be a part of. The involvement of the fire companies is a tremendous help and without their collaboration, we would have a more difficult time,” she added.
The fire halls and rescue squads in the community have offered to be donation centers for people to drop off non-perishable, shelf-stable food, and essentials. Designated locations will accept donations and in a clean and sanitized room. Volunteers will be organized to package food boxes and distribute them throughout the county.
Crossroads Church is also involved and has volunteered to store and distribute boxed meals.
Community volunteers will be organized to help package and distribute food boxes. A list of fire company locations and drop off times are posted on the Garrett County Community Action Committee website – https://www.garrettcac.org/
The following are location, days, and times to drop off food and essentials:
Friendsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM to 12:00 PM
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department
Friday, April 24th 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Friday, May 1st 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Accident Volunteer Fire Department
Wednesday, April 29th 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wednesday, May 6th 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Southern Rescue Squad
Thursday, April 30th 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 2nd 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Department
Tuesday, April 28th 1:00PM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday, May 5th 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
