Havre de Grace Sends Aid to Baltimore as Riots Break Out

Havre de Grace residents collected supplies Monday after hearing about the riots that broke out in Baltimore City.

Jess Griffin, a nurse at a Baltimore hospital who lives in Havre de Grace, began the donation drive after the chaos that erupted Monday night.

“Baltimore City Police Department and Baltimore City Fire Department [have] always been there for us,” Griffin wrote to friends on Facebook. “Now it is time for us to be there for them.”

Griffin said she and two of her friends who coach Little League together, one of whom is the wife of a Baltimore officer, coordinated the donation drive.

People who want to contribute may drop off drinks and packaged snacks to the Havre de Grace Police Department, Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, Dee’s Flowers and Gifts in Aberdeen and Grace United Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

Individuals with trucks are also needed to help transport donations.

The items will be taken to Baltimore City throughout the week and weekend to police and fire stations, where first responders are working long hours.

Griffin noted this was not any sort of political statement but an act of kindness.

“This is to help them,” Griffin said. “This is not ’for’ or ’against’ anything, nor are we saying what is ’right’ or ’wrong.’ It is just a kind gesture to help them get through this strenuous time.”

Those who cannot donate items but would like to contribute funds for gift cards may do so at a GoFundMe page called “Donations 4 BCPD & BCFD Fire & EMS.” By Wednesday morning, it had raised more than $2,300.

Donations were piling up on Tuesday for Baltimore first responders. Photo Credit: Jess Griffin.