Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse: Maryland VOAD is there!
Support for Stranded Crew Members as of April 12, 2024
We continue to respond to the needs of the Crew Members stranded in Baltimore’s Port following the Key Bridge collapse. We are coordinating with the Director and Chaplains at the Baltimore International Seafarers Center.
We have created a webpage on SignUpGenius that lists all the items needed for crew members. You may select all or part of the numbers needed for each item to donate. All the information needed to drop off or ship items will be sent to you in an email once you have completed your selection. Here is the link to the SignUpGenius page. Please share this with congregations and/or other constituents in your organization:
As an alternative, you can make a financial donation to the Maryland VOAD Disaster Fund, which will give us the flexibility to meet changing needs and fill gaps that may exists with in-kind donations. Here is the link that will take you directly to our financial giving portal:
Maryland VOAD Board of Directors have been working to set up the logistics for Maryland VOAD Member Organizations to respond to the needs of the Crew Members stuck in Baltimore’s Port following the Key Bridge collapse. We have been coordinating with the Director and Chaplains at the Baltimore International Seafarers Center.
Other individuals and organizations, not Member Organizations of Maryland VOAD, who wish to support our response efforts can best provide help through a financial gift. This link will take you to our donation portal:
Many of our Member and Partner Organizations continue to provide support for this response:
• Salvation Army’s feeding support stood down on Thursday, as other feeding contracts went live. They continue to provide emotional and spiritual care through their website link: Prayer Requests.
• The American Red Cross Integrated Condolence Care Team (encompassing Disaster Health Services, Disaster Mental Health, Disaster Spiritual Care, and Disaster Casework) will be meeting with a majority of the 5 families this afternoon and will conduct Recovery Intake activities with them.
• They anticipate receiving requests to support the repatriation of remains and the travel of family members not currently in the area to come to the area.
• ITDRC (Information Technology Disaster Resource Center) has been working with Lutheran Disaster Response to coordinate with Baltimore International Seafarers Center. They have also coordinated with Apostleship of the Sea to provide SIMM cards for the crew members of Dali, and possibly other crews.
• Lutheran Disaster Response has been coordinating with the Director of Baltimore International Seafarers Center to compile an accurate list of needs for crews stuck in port. They have also been working to set up the logistics for donation of gift cards should that become a need of the Unified Command.
• Maryland Department of Emergency Management has maintained continual contact with Maryland VOAD to help with coordination within the Maryland State system. Through their initiation, Maryland VOAD, DART platform has been suggested as the means for coordinating and managing in-kind donations. They are conducting a standing Partner Brief call at 3:30pm on Tuesdays.
• We continue to provide support to the USCG-Chief Petty Officers Association’s efforts to support the large number of personnel deployed for this response. (Please see their notice below.)
Maryland VOAD’s Coordinating Call Minutes from Friday, March 29, 2024.