HARLINGEN — Stacks of bottled water stood in the middle of the warehouse.
Ironic perhaps. This water is on its way to people displaced by flood waters from Hurricane Harvey. But this catastrophic hurricane is creating so much havoc on the Texas coast that everyone is pitching in.
That’s why Operation Texas has created a system of drop-off points and warehouses throughout the Rio Grande Valley, and that’s why Janine Campbell is taking a week off to receive supplies.
“We are getting calls for teeny tiny cities like Bayside,” said Campbell, a local photographer who’d cleared out her studio at 109 S. J Street to serve as a warehouse.
Donations of canned tuna, Vienna sausages, Progresso soups, green beans and corn waited for transport to Corpus Christi, Rockport and other areas hit by the hurricane. Diapers, toiletries and other needs also awaited delivery.
“There are calls coming in for additional needs in multiple cities,” Campbell said.
The operation to offer aid to storm victims seems to have formed spontaneously through the efforts of many individuals.
“Individuals all over the whole Valley like myself stopped what they were doing to help,” Campbell said.
Leslie Rowe and several other members of River Church RGV in Brownsville were preparing to transport supplies this morning to Corpus.
“We are working with an organization called Church Unlimited,” Rowe said. “We will be working with them to take supplies to people in Rockport. They are out of supplies.”
They were receiving troubling news from the disaster area.
“From what I hear, you can’t get into Port Aransas,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye as her 3-year-old daughter played nearby.
She gestured toward Campbell.
“I just decided we needed to do something,” Rowe said. “Janine called me and we started working together. We teamed up.”
Campbell said there are numerous locations throughout the Valley set up for the operation. They included three or four warehouses and supplies from other locations being taken there for transportation north.
“We’re working with the Salvation Army, Red Cross, church groups,” she said.
Donations of food, clothing and other supplies are being received at collection centers throughout the Valley as part of Operation Texas. Residents in Corpus Christi, Rockport, Victoria, Houston and other areas are in desperate need of such basic supplies as bottled water, canned goods, toiletries, diapers, clothing and blankets. Canned goods should have tabs on the top for easy opening without can openers.
For more information about Operation Texas, call 956-467-4113.
Please donate items to the following collection centers:
Hart Bookkeeping
2409 E. Griffin Parkway Ste. C
Mission
Bridges and Company
1108 Upas Ave.
McAllen
Weslaco Event Center
255 S. Kansas
Weslaco
Sun Loan
1326 N. Ed Carey Drive
Harlingen
Janine Marie Photography
109 S. J St
Harlingen
Shop 112
5401 N. 10th St.
McAllen
State Farm Christina Palomo
2312 S. Expressway 83 Ste. D
Harlingen
Gold’s Gym Harlingen
2020 S. Expressway 83
Harlingen
Judge Sheila
Garcia Bence
For Cameron County
1018 E. Tyler Ave. #1
Harlingen
Cameron County Constable Eddie Solis
3302 Wilson Rd.
Harlingen
Boys & Girls Club of San Benito
410 N. Stookey Rd.
San Benito
Hilton Garden Inn SPI
7010 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
412 Ash Ave. McAllen & 1305 Oklahoma St.
Harlingen
PTT Financial 1325 E. Washington Ave.
Harlingen
EverBeauty Nursery
8217 E. Iowa Rd.
Edinburg
TIFA: Tx Inmate Families Assoc.
1600 Harvey Dr.
McAllen
Bottled water, Powerade, Gatorade, formula for infants, diapers for children and adults, non-perishable foods, cleaning products, clothes, linens, pillows, shoes, packaged underwear & socks, personal items (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, toilet paper, combs, hair brushes, baby wipes, feminine products, hand sanitizer, etc.), school supplies, plastic cups, paper towels, paper plates, plastic wear, gift cards and more (no cash.)
All supplies will be transported to the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Headquarters in affected areas. Please donate by today.
