Hurricane Harvey Unites Central Illinois

3/26/2018 (Permalink)

Disaster can strike anywhere and SERVPRO is always there to step up, this time however, it was all of Central Illinois rallying around the State of Texas along with SERVPRO in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.  

As a Storm Event, SERVPRO of Clinton sent a majority of its staff and resources to assist the people in the state of Texas.  The team realizing we would be taking down an extra empty box truck came up with the idea of taking donations of much needed non perishable and food items the day before leaving.  Everyone we contacted quickly stepped up and offered their time and services to make this happen, starting with the Clinton Fire Department and the Superintendent of the Clinton school district.  All the schools, local businesses and the wonderful community, not just from Clinton, but also from Decatur, Bloomington, Moroa, Forsythe, Argenta, Monticello, Mahomet, Farmer City, Lincoln, Atlanta, Mt Pulaski, Bement and more stood and delivered.  We had hoped to fill a box truck top to bottom with goods showing our support for Texas.  We surpassed all expectations, we filled three box trucks!!!!  

It was amazing to watch as donations poured in fast and furious at the First Christian Church in Clinton.  Students came from the High School to volunteer their help sorting, loading and unloading.  The local Police and Fire Department collected items from the many drop off points around town.  A group of preschoolers arrived in a train of wagons to deliver toothbrushes.  It was truly amazing to see people from all walks of life step up to help out people they have never met.  

SERVPRO sent the first truck down with the crew and the owner brought the next loads down soon after.  The items raised went to the First Christian Church in Houston, Texas.  They had set up an emergency food bank and were in need of donations.  The church shared with all the local churches in the area to get much needed relief to those who needed it most.  The first truck load was fully dispersed to the  people that night, and did not sit in a warehouse a single day.  What an amazing experience and we here at SERVPRO take our hats off in honor of all the people of Central Illinois, you did us all proud.