COB'S, OTHERS' HURRICANE AID EFFORT CHUG AT FULL STEAM

By Juan Montoya
It's hardly been a day since the volunteer effort of the City of Brownsville on behalf  of the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the Coastal Bend started and already, two maquiladora-sized trailer are on their way to being filled with donated foodstuffs and survival needs.

The city's efforts are part of at least a half dozen different groups in town who have undertaken efforts to get water, canned goods, and other necessities like baby diapers, etc., to the people stricken by the effects of the flooding and destruction caused by the storm that has lingered off the Texas coast.

The city's efforts have been concentrated at the city's Main Library Branch on Central Blvd. Others have been collecting at different sites.

"There's a lot of good people in the city," said city manager Charlie Cabler as he reviewed the efforts of the city volunteers at the library. "There are three or more sites where goods are being collected."

Ezequiel Silva, owner of S&M Transport, LCC in Brownsville, said that the donations had already filled on trailer and that another was on its way. The destinations will be Houston, Rockport or Corpus Christi for distribution there or in neighboring communities affected by the high winds and flooding.

Silva said commissioner Ricardo Longoria asked him whether he could help out with one of his trailers to collect the donations and he readily agreed.

"We've filled one already and sent for another one," he said. "I think we're taking the first one to Houston."

The city started taking donations at Monday from 010 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will continue through Friday, September 1, 2017, at the Main Library Branch, 2600 Central Boulevard in Brownsville.

Residents are encouraged to donate bottled water, non-perishable food items, diapers and toiletries.

“All City of Brownsville departments are coming together to accept donations for communities across Texas affected by the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey,” said Cabler. “We encourage residents to support their fellow Texas communities by donating items, including water, non-perishable foods and toiletries.”

For more information, please contact (956) 546-HELP (4357) or email 546help@cob.us.

The Brownsville Herald reported that other organizations in the city has other sites where they are accepting donations. They list them at:

Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, 1600 University Dr. – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 1.

Texas Southmost College, (Monetary donations) Camille Lightner Center, 80 Fort Brown – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 8.

Incarnate Word Academy, 244 Resaca Blvd. – 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 1.

Cameron County Sheriff’s Dept., 7100 Old Alice Rd., - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cameron County San Benito Annex, 1390 W. Expressway 83- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nexus Real Estate, 185 Ruben M. Torres Blvd., - until Sept. 1

Living Waters Apostolic Church, 2011 Rancho Viejo Ave., Brownsville, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Donations needed: Water, toiletries, batteries, blankets, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothes, pet food, diapers, baby items and can openers.