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Houston helps victims of Florence
University of Houston Athletics spent Monday collecting donations for victims of Hurricane Florence. They plan to start day two of their hurricane supply drive at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and they’re throwing in free tickets to Saturday’s football game for people who make donations Tuesday.
The football team has parked its H-Town Takeover equipment trailer at the southwest corner of TDECU Stadium on Scott Street, and they’re inviting members of the community to swing by and drop off nonperishable items that can benefit flood victims.
“We’ve got our football equipment truck, and just the way the schedules worked out, our next away game is not until October 13, so immediately we knew: alright, we’ve got something that can take a lot of good out to the East Coast, so let’s put it to use instead of having the truck just sitting empty on the lot,” said David Bassity, University of Houston Senior Associate Athletics Director.
Student athletes helped pack supplies into the trailer Monday as Houston residents dropped them off. They hope to fill it up quickly so they can send it on the 17-hour road trip to North Carolina in the next day or so.
“I feel so terrible for those people,” said Betty Geraci who stopped by the trailer to donate water and pet food. “I can kind of relate to what they’re going through (having been through Harvey).”
On the ground in North Carolina, Texas volunteers have been helping with rescues since Florence made landfall.
Video shot Sunday in Lumberton shows volunteers from Sugar Land and San Antonio helping to save horses, dogs and other animals from flooding.
Those volunteers are continuing their work with the help of supplies donated by the local Lowe’s in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Taylor Fontenot, who drove into Florence’s path from Sugar Land, Texas, says the Laurinburg Lowe’s gave his crew sledge hammers, demolition gear, wheel grinders, lights, rain boots and safety gear.
The Laurinburg Lowe’s manager tells FOX 26 the store has donated at least $15,000 worth of supplies to volunteer rescuers, firefighters, and other first responders who are helping those effected by Florence’s floodwaters.