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Impact: How you can help Ellicott City flood victims

The Howard County Food Bank is taking donations of food, water, cleaning supplies, and money to help the victims of the flash flood in Ellicott City.

With all the sad news from Ellicott City, it may be nice to hear that you can impact the victims' lives in a positive way.

WUSA9's Impact Team is here to help the community come together to solve problems. We're working with the Howard County Food Bank and the Community Action Council of Howard County to help people hit by the flood -- with food, water, and cleaning supplies.

The Howard County Food Bank is just off 95 and Route 32 at 9385 Gerwig Lane, Unit J, Columbia, Md., 21046. They're accepting donations every day this week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RELATED: Did development around Ellicott City lead to worsening of catastrophic floods?

Every few minutes, generous people are rolling up to the Howard County Food Bank with vehicles crammed with supplies for the flood victims.

"We want to do everything we can to give them as much help as they need," said Shannon Cass, who with friends from Mosaic Technologies, brought in an SUV filled with water and cleaning supplies.

They were motivated by a co-worker who was with National Guardsman Eddison Hermond when he was swept away.

In just four hours, the food bank warehouse went from almost empty to overflowing with food, water and cleaning supplies.

"Over 50,000 pounds of donated items and more pouring through our doors right now, it is absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing," said Anne Brinker of the Community Action Council.

Despite the overflowing warehouse, they have more room and they will always take cash or a check.

Donors have brought in so much water and so many cleaning supplies, the food bank is now asking people to focus on non-perishable food like granola bars, tuna fish and peanut butter.

"Keep in mind that if people don't have utilities, if they don't have the capacity to cook things, or they don't have a refrigerator to preserve them, so we're looking for things that are ready to eat," said Brinker.

Volunteers are now packing emergency kits to take to the flood zone.

"You have a tremendous impact when you bring food to this food bank, and you solve that problem for a family, a neighbor, for a friend," said Jen Grieb of the Community Action Council.

The donations will go to any businessperson, any worker, any resident, any volunteer or first responder who needs it.

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