January 17, 2009

In a partnership with the University of Virginia's Health System's MERCI program, the Charlottesville Fire Department is accepting donations that will be sent to Haiti.

The Fire Department says they hope to fill a large space usually designated for a fire engine, with goods for the relief efforts in Haiti.

While Battalion Chief Rick Crickenberger says that donations have already trickled in, they need many more to fulfill their goal.

"We hope to fill the entire engine bay from the floor to the ceiling," Crickenberger says.

You can drop off the following goods at the Charlottesville Fire Department at 203 Ridge Street from Monday January 18-Thursday January 21 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m:

Canned Foods
Powdered Milk
Bandages
Water Treatment Purification Tablets
Blankets (Must be NEW)
Buckets
Coolers
Rope
Tarps
Bottled Water
Nutritional Drinks
Antibiotic Skin Cream
Flashlights & Flashlight Batteries
Clothing (Must be NEW)
Pedialyte
Soap
Toiletries
Rain Coats
Generators

All items with expiration dates must be at least 4 months in date.

Donations may also be left in the hospital’s main cafeteria on Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The items will be donated to the Virginia-based relief organization Gleaning for the World.

MERCI (Medical Equipment Recovery of Clean Inventory) is an ongoing Health System program that diverts clean and unused surplus medical supplies and equipment to local, national and foreign organizations and humanitarian projects.