The Baltimore area showed that it can respond to disasters as about 1,500 people toted food and clothing to Oriole Park at Camden Yards yesterday to help tornado victims.
The ballpark sprang to life for a day as a drop-off site for supplies to aid Baltimoreans harmed by Tuesday's twisters.
Boxes of food and trash bags full of clothes were piled high in front of the ballpark. Employees of the Orioles and two local radio stations buzzed around tables, gathering supplies from the stream of donors.
"We haven't stopped all day," said Wendy Tackett, the wife of Orioles catcher Jeff Tackett. She packed food donations into 175 boxes that nearly filled a Maryland Food Bank truck.
People came from the city and suburbs bearing bags containing peanut butter, tuna, soup, noodles, napkins and dishes. Even a television set was donated to the cause.
The food will be distributed by the Food Bank and the clothing and household goods through a church.
Many people have received help from the American Red Cross, and some are eligible for tax relief from the state comptroller's office.
Yesterday's donors were treated to tours of the ballpark and given copies of the team's 40th anniversary yearbook. They also got to meet former Orioles heroes Ken Singleton, Don Buford and Paul Blair.
But sisters Veronica Imes and Pamela Imes, of Ridgely's Delight, said they came only to help.
"I thought it was a terrible tragedy, and it would be good if everyone pitched in," said Veronica Imes. "I would want people to help me if I were in the same situation."
Jill Adler and Marissa Merrick, both 17-year-old seniors at Randallstown High School, brought bags of food and clothing to the ballpark after hastily organizing their own collection drive at their school yesterday. They did all this after taking their SATs yesterday morning.
"After the SATs, I said, 'I'm drained. Come on and let's make some signs,' " said Ms. Merrick. The girls and a dozen other volunteers stood along Liberty Road with signs directing donors to the school.
The Orioles teamed with WBAL and 98-Rock radio to organize the Camden Yards drive after Ed Kiernan, general manager of the stations, proposed the idea to the team.