RVs 4 MDs Initiative Arrives In Maryland To Aid Coronavirus Fight

MARYLAND — Health care workers are on the front lines of the new coronavirus pandemic, surrounded by the crisis every day while trying to save lives. They're also worried about transmitting the virus to loved ones at home. To ease those concerns, RVs 4 MDs was born.

Abbey Burgee, state coordinator for Maryland's RVs 4 MDs initiative, is sharing her RV with a medical professional. She didn't hesitate when she and her husband learned about the movement, she told Patch.

"This wasn't something my husband and I even discussed; we just knew we needed to help," Burgee said. "The wife of a doctor in Texas posted on her personal Facebook page about needing an RV to have him isolate from their family. An RV owner saw it and offered hers immediately. They determined then and there to create this movement and that it was going to become 'a thing.'"

At present, Burgee has a combined 145 submissions, from RV owners willing to share their vehicles and from medical professionals seeking a place to quarantine themselves from their families.

"The stress they're facing every day is more than enough," Burgee told Patch. "They're taking care of our families; we can take care of theirs."

Burgee's RV currently is stationed at a nurse's home in Hagerstown who is now able to see loved ones through the window rather than come into close contact and run the risk of spreading the virus.

Laurie Diener, a volunteer with RVs 4 MDs, told Patch that the group is trying to spread the word to match more RVs with medical professionals. To share an RV with a medical professional, people can visit the RVs 4 MDs Facebook page. A Google document that serves as an intake form must be filled out to help organizers better match RV availability with the need in the medical community. RV owners should make sure to post a picture of their RV, a description of it and the city and state where it's located.

So far, 600 matches have been made across the country, organizers noted on the Facebook page.

Ward Pettis shared on the Facebook page that he has a 26-foot-long travel trailer available in Maryland that he's more than willing to loan out.

"Let's see if we can hook it up somewhere with water, electricity and sewage service," he posted.

See more:

Maryland Coronavirus: Cases Top 8,000, Breakdown By ZIP Code