Hagerstown couple creating care packages for Meritus coronavirus workers
Hagerstown couple creating care packages for Meritus coronavirus workers
- By Sherry Greenfield sgreenfield@herald-mail.com
- May 4, 2020
Denny Haywood of Hagerstown, a hospital volunteer, fills bags with snacks that will go into care packages for workers at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown.
Bags filled with snacks that will go into care packages for workers at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown are seen in this photo.
For weeks, hospital workers at Meritus Medical Center have been caring for patients with COVID-19.
Lynn and Rick Bibbee of Hagerstown, a couple that has a history of fundraising for various causes in Washington County, has turned their attention to Meritus, and providing its coronavirus workers with packages of healthy, energizing treats.
The couple is putting together what they call "G.O.L.F." (Going on Low Fuel) care packages, filled with a variety of goodies.
The goal is to deliver 2,500 treat bags to Meritus on Monday, May 18.
"We do a lot of community-service projects for the community, but because of the coronavirus. we're really restricted on what we can do," Lynn said. "Everybody has been asking us, 'What are you guys going to do?' I've always wanted to do something for hospital workers."
The snack bags for all hospital workers will include cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks, granola bars, breakfast bars, trail mix, mints, gum, Hershey Kisses, miniature candy bars and a special "thank-you" letter.
"Everything in the bags are pre-packaged," Bibbee said.
The care packages, intended to honor Meritus hospital staff members, will go to nurses, doctors, custodians, office workers and executive staffers.
Though many of the treats have been purchased and currently being bagged by volunteers, Bibbee said they still need donations.
"We're only asking that people stick to the list (of food) so all bags are the same," she said. "Every one of the bags has to be the same."
Pre-packaged snacks can be dropped off at U-Haul Moving & Trailer Hitch Center of Hagerstown at 18315 Shawley Drive in Maugansville, or at Loaves & Fishes Thrift Store on High Street in Hancock.
A postcard with the donor's name or business can be added to the snack bags.
Cash also may be donated to help purchase the snacks. Checks should be mailed to Modern Woodmen, Chapter 15456, 21636 Kelso Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742.
People also may fill their own bags.
For more information, visit the event page on Facebook, call 301-790-7799 or send an email to Rick Bibbee at richard.l.bibbee@mwarep.org. Lynn Bibbee may be reached at 301-991-0541 or by email at lynnbbee@aol.com.
Sherry Greenfield covers the Washington County Board of Education and Washington County Public Schools and the town of Smithsburg. She can be reached at 301-791-6235 or by email at sgreenfield@herald-mail.com.
