People Helping People

Since making landfall, weather gurus estimate that Hurricane Harvey has dumped over 15 trillion gallons of water in the Gulf Coast and South Texas region. The pictures we see on social media and the local nightly news depict astonishing devastation alongside incredible heroics of ordinary people. The City of Dallas is set to house and care for 5,000 evacuees by turning the Kay Bailey Convention Center into a mega-shelter complete with a pharmacy area and other key need components. Dallas expects to receive tens of thousands of evacuees in the coming days as what remains of Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to an epic flood of rainfall in South Texas and along the Gulf Coast.

There are a lot of people in need of desperate help and many who want to help but don’t necessarily know how. My friend Jeff Chase has been busy in the Sugarland area rescuing people. He says that they continue to need able-bodied people to come down and assist with massive search and rescue efforts. Jeff’s crew is in need of jet skis and small boats. Another friend of mine, Michael Garrett, CEO of Trusted World, is actively seeking volunteers to help at the Dallas Distribution Center Trusted World recently set up on Dallas Parkway. You can sign-up for a 2-hour shift if that’s all your schedule allows and sort through donations and pack them up to help Harvey’s victims. If you want to donate, they are especially in need of new underwear and socks (all sizes), non-perishable food, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, baby diapers, wipes and formula. You can also make financial donations on the Trusted World website. Both of these men are everyday heroes putting their faith into action.

Matthew West “Do Something”

Like with most problems, it’s not a matter of need or a matter of resources, but connecting the two. You can do something. You can help. You can make a difference. Whether that’s physically going down and joining first responders and emergency rescue personnel like my buddy Jeff or volunteering your time, hands, and feet with a great organization like my friend Michael’s Trusted World, you can help. If nothing else, help me do my part by getting the word out. I know you can. I believe you will.