- Home
- Departments
- Emergency Services
- Disaster Donations
Disaster Donations
You can help in a disaster by contributing money or sending appropriate items for disaster victims.
Money Donations
Money should be sent as a check to a bona fide disaster response organization. The check can be designated for a specific disaster or specific donation such as "blankets," "food," "medicine," or other items. You can donate through local volunteer disaster relief offices including: American Red Cross, Brethren Disaster Services, Church World Service, Lutheran Disaster Services, Methodist Disaster Services, Presbyterian Disaster Services, Salvation Army, or NAILS. The National Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster Website shows all national volunteer disaster agencies.
Kits
You can also create disaster recovery kits. These kits must be in a sturdy box, clearly labeled as to contents. All items should be new, unopened and still in original wrapper. You can enclose a personal note for the disaster victims if you like. Enclosing an additional donation check to Church World Service in your disaster kit can help ship your disaster recovery kit to the disaster site. They can be shipped prepaid to:
Brethren Service Center
500 Main Street
New Windsor, MD 21776-0188
- Blanket Kit
- Clean-Up Kit
- Health Kit
- Infant Layette
- Food Staples Kit
- Sewing Kit
- School Kit
- Family Medicine Cabinet Kit
- Dispensary Medicine Kit
Blanket Kit
Need sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. Any size of blankets are among the most valuable resource. They can be used as makeshift tents, hammocks, bags, and as bedding.
Clean-Up Kit
For one household, you need a sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. One bucket filled with:
- 1 can of powder cleanser
- 1 scrub brush
- 1 wire brush
- Plastic garbage bags
- Rubber gloves
- Sponges
Health Kit
For one person, you need a sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. Wrap items in the towel, and tie with ribbon. Contents are:
- 1 comb
- 1 hand towel
- 1 nail file
- 1 new, in wrapper, bath-size bar of soap
- 1 toothbrush
- 1 tube of toothpaste
- 1 wash cloth
- 6 band aids
Infant Layette
For one infant, you need a sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents and infant size/age. Wrap items in one of receiving blankets, and secure with diaper pins. No plastic pants, bottles, shoes, toys, or talcum (baby) powder. Contents are:
- 1 sweater
- 2 diaper pins
- 2 gowns
- 2 receiving blankets
- 2 shirts
- 2 wash cloths
- 4 cloth diapers
Food Staples Kit
Need sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents of:
- 1 1-pound box of granulated sugar
- 1 1-pound box of iodized salt
- 1 9-ounce can of pepper
- 1 box of 25 tea bags
- 12 ounces of canned beef or corned beef
- 12 ounces of canned chicken or tuna
- 32 ounces of plastic bottle cooking oil
- 4 1-pound bags of dry beans
- 4 1-pound boxes powdered milk
- 5 1-pound bags of white rice
- 8 ounces of instant coffee
Sewing Kit
Need sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. Wrap all sewing kits inside the fabric, and tie with string or strip of fabric. Contents are:
- 1 card of 6 buttons, or 6 matching buttons secured together
- 1 package hand sewing needles
- 1 spool of matching thread
- 3 yards of cotton or cotton blend fabric
School Kit
For one child, you need a sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. Place all items in cloth bag, fold it over, and secure shut with two large rubber bands.
- 1 12 by 14-inch cloth bag with handles
- 1 2 1/2-inch eraser
- 1 30-centimeter metric ruler
- 1 blunt scissors
- 1 box of eight crayons
- 1 pencil sharpener
- 12 sheets of construction paper
- 2 8 by 11-inch writing pads
- 6 unsharpened pencils with erasers
Family Medicine Cabinet Kit
Enough for one household. You need sturdy box with outside label indicating specific contents. Medications must be new, in original wrapping and unopened. Bottles must have expiration date of no less than 18 months.
- 1 bottle adult pain reliever (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen)
- 1 bottle children pain reliever
- 1 bottle One-a-Day children's multiple vitamin
- 1 box of assorted band aids
- 1 plastic bottle of antacid (Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, etc.)
- 1 plastic bottle of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tube of antibiotic or first aid cream
Dispensary Medicine Kit
Enough for 1,000 people for three months. Contact Interfaith Medical Assistance (address below) for complete planning packet to assemble this kit. Some items include:
- 1,000 325-milligram tablets of Acetaminophen
- 1,000 325-milligram tablets of Aspirin
- 50 sterile gauze 4 by 4-inch pads
- 500 tablets (no liquids) of antacids
- 500 tablets multivitamins with iron
- 6 rolls of 1/2-inch by 10-yards adhesive tape.
Optional
Donate prescription drugs to complete the kit by designating kit Church World Service "Gifts of the Heart Dispensary Medicine Kit," and separately sending check for $300 to:
Interfaith Medical Assistance
P.O. Box 429
New Windsor, MD 21776
-
Emergency Services
Physical Address
Emergency Services Headquarters
11400 PPG Road SE
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: : 301-876-9155Fax: : 301-876-9160Emergency Phone: : 911 (10 digit direct dial number: 301-777-7111)