Fire and medical companies in Harford County, as well as one police department, are helping those who have been responding to the unrest and riots in Baltimore.
The Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association said five local companies are accepting donations at their main stations until later today.
Residents can drop off items at the Bel Air, Jarrettsville, Abingdon, Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps and Havre de Grace Police Department, Association spokesperson Jenn Chenworth said Tuesday.
"Any thing pre-packaged, cases of water, fruit, is greatly appreciated to assist our emergency service personnel," Chenworth said.
From just a post on the company's Facebook page around 8 a.m. Tuesday, donations have been pouring into Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's main headquarters on Hickory Avenue by 8:30 a.m., ladies auxiliary president Kristine Davis said.
Just before 1 p.m., Davis said well more than 100 people had dropped off donations.
"We definitely overwhelmed by the outpouring from the community. People are coming in hugging us, crying," Davis, whose husband, Ricky, is chief of the company. "One man saw the sign, said I didn't know you were doing this and handed us $6 and said 'put it toward something.'"
"It's pretty cool the amount of support people here want to give the firefighters and police officers down there dealing with all that," she said.
Once the collection concludes around 6 p.m., fire company members will form a convoy to take the items to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where police are gathering. From there they'll go to Old Town to provide drinks and snacks for firefighters.
She said at least four box trucks are full and anticipates at least 20 people will be going downtown.
Calls for prayer
Several Harford churches are also joining the Baltimore-wide effort to support and pray for the unrest in the city.
Mountain Christian Church announced two prayer gatherings at 7 p.m. Tuesday at its Mountain Road campus and the Epicenter in Edgewood.
"This will be an informal time, open to all. We won't do any preaching or protesting. We will demonstrate through prayer. Come and go as you wish," Pastor Ben Cachiaras wrote in a note to the congregation.
"We will be offering to help with clean up and assisting with rebuilding or whatever we can do when that time comes. We are working to discover the best partnerships and places to be engaged for the most helpful impact. Stay posted," Cachiaras said.
He added that he saw the solution to the crisis as a spiritual one.
"I believe the anger, fear, destruction and frustration are finally convincing many that the only way Baltimore will be healed is through God," Cachiaras said.
The Rev. Kimberly Secrist Ashby of Fallston Presbyterian Church said at least six churches will also be meeting at 7 p.m. at the Fallston Road congregation
She said Methodist, Lutheran and other churches from the Fallston area will meet, and her colleagues from Street, Aberdeen and possibly Joppa will also come.
"This is evolving as we speak," she said late Tuesday morning, noting that they are debating being outside with candles and glowsticks.
"Watching last night the events that are going on in Baltimore City, know this is something that affects every single one of us. it is not an issue for only a few people," the Fallston-based pastor said.
"This is a time when churches especially can bear witness to the fact that God is greater than anything that might divide us," she said.