H-E-B partners head to Texas coast, locals rally support for flood victims

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

On Thursday morning, a number of Copperas Cove H-E-B Partners were part of a total 100 partners coming from the Copperas Cove, Harker Heights, Killeen, Temple and Waco area who left for Southeast Texas to help with relief efforts. 
Nearly 1,000 H-E-B partners from across the Central Texas region are headed to Houston. Their efforts are to provide cleanup support at stores throughout the Houston area, according to a press release issued by the company on Wednesday.
The company’s Emergency Response Team has Disaster Response Units and an H-E-B Mobile Kitchen stationed in Rockport with a second team in Houston. 
The company has also been operating a Mobile Pharmacy and Mobile Business Center at the H-E-B in Rockport. 
“Starting on Wednesday, August 30, people will be able to make monetary donations when using our H-E-B Curbside service and on HEB.com. All monies accepted from the Tear Pad campaign, which we launched in-store this weekend, will benefit the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Feeding Texas and their disaster relief efforts,” said Leticia Mendoza, with H-E-B Public Affairs.
Locals have also rallied with their own efforts to aid flood victims. On Tuesday, four members of Crestview Christian Church headed to Katy with a boat, where they made contact with others in the relief effort and have spent this week doing numerous water rescues. 
Volunteer sign-ups for the relief centers in Bell County can be done at http://thevista.tv/harvey/. 
Locally, the Optimist Club of Copperas Cove collected donations for flood victims, filling a trailer by the Thursday. Requested items included water/sports drinks, nonperishable food, plastic cups, plastic forks/knives/spoons, black trash bags, cleaning supplies, bleach, exam gloves, medical masks, shovels, brooms, bug spray, fans, diapers for both infants and adults, as well as toiletries.
Optimist Club member Tony Smith said the trailer is pulling out this morning, where it will meet up with the relief effort operating out of Brenham. 
Smith said the local DAV chapter has been collecting items, which have already been transported to the southeast Texas.  
Moses Perez, LVN, manages Integrity Urgent Care in the Five Hills Shopping Center and said his facility is also accepting donations for flood victims. They are collecting hygiene items, “anything” that a flood victim might need except for furniture, said Perez, whose cousin and family have fled the flooding. The urgent care center will ensure the transport and delivery of donations.