Attn: DC/MD/VA Area Taco Drivers (with 4WD)

I've just sent an email to WTOP (our local news/traffic radio station) regarding the upcoming snow and potential to have local TW Members help out:

RE: Upcoming Weather

During the snow storm this past December, you wrote an article on local hospitals looking for volunteers with 4WD and snow driving experience... You listed out the numbers and how we could help. I was unfortunately unable to help due to previous commitments.

Yet, this past snow storm I found no such article... And since we are all expecting a significant amount of snow - I am hoping to be able to assist hospital employees this round.

I am working on organizing a group effort consisting of several volunteers from a web-based Toyota Tacoma Truck Club called Tacoma World (www.tacomaworld.com). Many of us are responsible recreational off-roaders with 4WD. Further, many of us have outfitted our trucks for off-roading with accessories like winches, lifts, 4WD enhancements, etc. and carry helpful equipment like tow straps... Many of us have also have snow experience (some with experience off-roading in snow) and have moved here from snowy states… (I’m myself grew up in upstate NY and was born in North Dakota).


If at all possible, would you please write an article (or post something) on local organizations, hospitals, retirement homes, etc. that will need this kind of assistance over the weekend should the weather be forecasted correctly.

By doing this ahead of time, I believe that we can help get things in order - so all we have to do is receive a phone call...

Best Regards,
Don from Waldorf, MD
​

The information I was provided is as follows:

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4WDs Needed at Hospitals




Area hospitals and nursing homes are asking for volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles to help hospital staff get to work.

• Baltimore Washington Medical Center, call 410-787-4800.
• Holy Cross Hospital, call 301-754-7000 or show up at the hospital.
• Providence Hospital, call 202-269-7148.
• National Rehabilitation Hospital, call 202-877-1000.
• Virginia Hospital Center, call 703-558-6868.
• Washington Nursing Home, call 202-279-0799.
• Sunrise at Mount Vernon Assisted Living, call 703-780-9800.
• Davita Dialysis, call 202-543-9105 or Myra Cruz at 202-731-7476.
• HCR Manor Care, call 703-765-6107.
• Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, call 301-877-4883.
• Sentara Potomac Hospital, call 703-670-1638.
• Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley, call 202-574-5700. Monetary compensation is available.

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If you are interested in volunteering for this and live in the area... GPS or strong navigation skills is probably helpful, as well as 4WD, and snow driving experience.

I plan on helping out Saturday and possibly Sunday... If you end up helping out... just post if you received a call, number of calls, the number of "people deliveries" you made...

No reward except doing something good for those that are sick...

Using my prior Geospatial background and knowledge of Google Maps, I've created a basic map to help you decide if you can help or not... (Please note that this was initially for me to determine what hospitals I should call, which is why Waldorf is listed.) Be safe!!

 

The mileage and any associated expenses should be deductible if you get some documentation from the hospital that you assisted.

This is a great thing you've started and it'll make us all look good! I'd help, but I'll be pushing snow for Fairfax City!

 

Sure - it would/could be positve PR for TW/Truck drivers/off-roaders as well...

 

I've seen this article last time too.

My question is, why don't other areas have this idea? I mean, is it a great idea, that DC is pioneering the way? Is it an idea that other regions have and I just haven't heard of it? Or is it that people in DC are too "FILL IN YOUR OWN ADJECTIVE" to drive in the snow?

Probably looks good to volunteer. But why can't they get to work themselves?

 

You bring up some interesting points; other areas could do this... but maybe they haven't done anything formal like WTOP has... Here is some food for thought:


When someone mentions that DC drivers cannot drive in the snow, I usually say: "True, they cannot even drive well on sunny days... But DC has a high rate of transient people..." and I use an example like "Imagine the officials at all of the foreign embassies... Like the Kenyan Embassy... Do you think they've ever really seen snow (possibly) let alone driven in it?"

That's not to mention all of the colleges around here with inexperienced drivers... the tourists, the immigrants, the military personnel, etc.


Here, we all come from a vastly different background... Much like it is in Hampton Roads, VA with the Naval Base. We may not all have 4WD and some rely on public transportation that will likely be shutdown or sticking to snow routes.

 

Which hospital is "B" on this map? Great thing you're doing by the way...I'd like to help but I'm from Dallas so am not that experienced in the snow.

 

I'd love to help, just too far south

 

Lets see... I went right down the list but there were two I couldn't place precisely on the map... A is Waldorf, MD (where I am), so 'B' should be Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

 

this is great. i can't believe i've never heard of this before. i'll be calling tomorrow. i'm in tyson's corner, so very close to locations I, H, and whatever's behind H. who's done this before? was it at least semi-organized, and do you feel like you were actually helping.

 

This is great and can be fun. I'v done it in the past.

 

Rep Inbound for taking a great idea one step further.
GREAT work!!

 

Thanks, that's actually pretty close to me. I'm going to go out on Saturday and practice using my 4wd in the deep stuff...then hopefully next big snow I'll be ready to carry passengers and lend a hand.

Props to those who do this, there's potential for a lot of lives to be impacted by getting nurses/doctors to the hospital.

 

Agreed definitely a great idea! I tried helping out last big storm the week before Christmas, but they didn't need any help at any local hospitals. I'll be checking it out again tomorrow too. I have to work today but Uncle Sam is letting us out 4 hours early

 

We work for the same company... LOL

 

WTOP has updated with a more extensive list. Not very easy to navigate too on the site, they should make it more visible. Anyways I am volunteering at Shady Grove, haven't called yet but will tonight/tomorrow morning.

• Baltimore Washington Medical Center, call 410-787-4800.
• Holy Cross Hospital, call 301-592-2398. Hospital especially needs drivers to transport employees from D.C. to Silver Spring.
• Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, call 240-826-7693.
• Providence Hospital, call 202-269-7148.
• INOVA Fairfax Hospital, call 703-776-7433.
• INOVA Alexandria Hospital, call 703-504-3679.
• Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, call 703-536-2000.
• National Rehabilitation Hospital, call 202-877-1000.
• Virginia Hospital Center, call 703-558-6868.
• Washington Nursing Home, call 202-279-0799.
• Sunrise at Mount Vernon Assisted Living, call 703-780-9800.
• Spoddard Baptist Nursing Home in D.C., call 202-328-7400 x 1306.
• Davita Dialysis, call 202-543-9105 or Myra Cruz at 202-731-7476.
• Adventist Behavioral Health-Rockville, call 301-251-4500.
• HCR Manor Care, call 703-765-6107.
• Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, call 301-877-4883.
• Manassas Health and Rehabilitation Center, call 703-257-9770.
• Sentara Potomac Hospital, call 703-670-1638.
• Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley, call 202-574-5794. Monetary compensation is available.

 

Good looking out man!!

 

Ok, I've finally got hold of Southern Maryland Hospital Center...

If you want to reach them BEFORE they officially open the command center, you have to call the main number: 301-868-8000

After they've opened the command center, the number listed above is correct.

I spoke with a really nice guy by the name of Bob MaLacky (Sp?) who put me on the first shift from 0500 to ???

The SoMD Hospital Center's area goes from Bowie, MD to La Plata, MD... not into DC or VA.

After that, I'm on at Holy Cross in DC from 1230 on....

Good luck gents and ladies!!!

 

just signed up for two hospitals in the northern virginia area (i live in vienna). they said they were very greatful for my help and would more than likely be calling me a few times. cam't wait to help i always hated community service when we had hourly requirements per semester in high school, but now that it's not required, i can't get enough.

everyone sign up and show the community all of the great people we have on tacoma world!

 

Is there any thing more northeast? like union hospital or christiana?

 

Thanks to everyone for helping out!

This will mean something to those that are sick and in need of care (even thought they may never know)... Surely, someone's mom or dad or child is there - could be yours.

Don't forget to post up whether you got calls or not (if you put yourself on a list) & how many people you delivered home or to a hospital... Honor system rules...

Username: XYZ
# Times Called: 3
People Delivered: 4

I know a door prize wasn't part of the original deal and it's really not much... But since I'm in the process of getting more t-shirts done for my side gig (DJing) anyway, I'll happily give a free t-shirt to top supporter (the one with the most people dropped off) of this effort. I'll even pay postage or I can meet you to give it to you.

1) You get '1' for a drop off at a house or a hospital...
2) Any ties will be decided based on who posted first.
3) Once a top supporter is declared (I'll PM you).
4) Cut off time for this is Sunday at 2359 (midnight).
***Please keep in mind that it will take a few weeks to get my order in, because I'll have to order it - wait - then ship it to you.

Here is what they look like:
Front:


Back:


And remember - safety first. No second place prizes for being dead or injured.