HARLINGEN — No lights.

No water, no heat … and for some, no food.

The winter storm and its resulting power outages threw many people into dire circumstances, but the kids at LeMoyne Gardens Housing Area were hit especially hard. The aging houses have no insulation and when darkness fell Monday the kids were facing a cold and scary night.

However, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlingen took quick action.

“We found out about a number of children that had been without power and were probably going to be without power for an extended period of time,” said Gerald Gathright, executive director.

“They live in an area that already has a lot of lack to begin with, and we had concerns for their safety,” he said.

Enter Hilda Gathright and Alma Dones, unit directors respectively at the LeMoyne and Main units of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlingen. Dones took the club van into LeMoyne and picked up five kids and their belongings, and Gerald Gathright picked up another family.

All told, about 40 kids were brought to the Main where they were greeted by Hilda Gathright with her warmth and ready smiles. Soon other employees and volunteers showed up and more kids arrived seeking a hot meal. A volunteer provided blankets and pillows.

“We probably had another 15 to 20 that we fed,” Gathright said. “Probably 50 or 60 people were impacted. Basically we gave them a warm safe place to stay. Of course we practiced all the social distancing things and masks and all the protocols to keep them safe.”

He gave special thanks to Rob and Rhonda Bowen, owners of the two local Dairy Queen franchises, for providing food.

“They called unexpectedly and asked if there was anything we needed,” he said. “They didn’t have power to their businesses. The Dairy Queens were shut down, so he had extra food supplies and he wanted to help somebody.”

It was a somewhat serendipitous exchange.

“He did not know that we were doing this sheltering for these children and he asked us if there was anything we needed,” Gathright said. “I call it God’s perfect timing. He provided the hamburgers and the hot dogs and even the ice cream cakes.”

It was much needed … and much appreciated.

“Many of those children had not eaten all day long,” Gathright said. “In fact, one of the children told me the only thing she had to eat that day was a rice cake.”


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