The Catonsville United Methodist Church is collecting supplies to send to Baltimore City residents left without access to grocery stores and convenience stores after last week's unrest following the death of Freddie Gray.
The church on Melvin Avenue, along with several others in the Baltimore-Washington conference of United Methodist churches, is accepting donations today and tomorrow for a scheduled delivery on Thursday.
Among the requested items are:
• toiletries, such as toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant,
• regular-size packages of toilet paper
• non-perishable food items.
On Thursday, church staff plans to deliver the items to three city churches that will then distribute the supplies to neighborhood residents.
Marge Odom, who helped organize the drive in Catonsville, said she expects a good turnout from church members wanting to get involved in helping city neighborhoods get back on their feet.
Church members were notified of the collection late Tuesday morning, she said, and many were already reaching out to friends and neighbors to get involved.
"People are just incredibly generous with their time and money at the church," she said.
Congregant Jennifer Parker immediately forwarded the email message she received from the church about the drive to all the people she knew who were not church members.
"I sent it to my car mechanic, who's giving me a bag, my hair dresser, she's also giving me some stuff," she said. "Everybody wants to help."
Supplies can be dropped off at the church, 6 Melvin Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.