MDTA Collects Toys for Tots at Fort McHenry Tunnel and BWI Locations
The Maryland Transportation Authority announced on December 2 that MDTA police and toll employees were collecting new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots at several bridge and toll locations across Maryland. The collection continued the agencys long running holiday participation and offered commuters convenient drop off points including the DriveEzMD center near Exit 56 at the Fort McHenry Tunnel and the BWI lower level detachment.
The Maryland Transportation Authority announced on December 2 that its police and toll staff were running a holiday toy drive for Toys for Tots at multiple bridge and toll plazas across the state. The agency established collection points at the DriveEzMD center near Exit 56 at the Fort McHenry Tunnel and at the BWI lower level detachment, and scheduled pickup windows on specified mornings and evenings as detailed by MDTA. The effort built on the MDTAs long running participation in the campaign, with volunteers collecting tens of thousands of toys in past years.
The initiative placed collection stations where commuters pass daily, making drop off accessible during regular travel patterns. For Baltimore City residents who use the Fort McHenry Tunnel or travel to BWI, the locations provided an option to donate without deviating far from existing routes. The MDTA emphasized coordination of employee volunteers from police and toll operations to staff the sites during the listed times, maintaining agency services while supporting the charitable drive.
Beyond immediate donations the program illustrates how a transportation agency uses public infrastructure and employee resources for community engagement. MDTA involvement leverages high traffic locations to increase participation, while relying on staff volunteer time rather than direct public expenditures. That arrangement raises routine institutional questions about balancing operational priorities with outreach activities, and the importance of clear scheduling and transparency so commuters are aware of any temporary lane or staffing impacts.
The toys collection also has civic significance. Large scale community drives like this channel private giving to families during the holiday season, and they create visible points of cooperation between state agencies and local nonprofits. For Baltimore residents the drive offered a practical way to contribute to holiday aid efforts while traveling through key city corridors. As the season progresses the MDTA will continue its collection schedule at the posted times and locations.
