COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Amid the 23d Wing’s Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts staged out of College Station, Texas’s Easterwood Airport, community members banded together to show their appreciation by providing a wide range of support to airmen.
As Harvey’s category 4 conditions ravaged the Southwest region, local Texans poured out to to help those in need. Among the help was local volunteer Jamie Boyd, who gladly helped coordinate the ground humanitarian efforts.
“I wanted to give back to those affected and the [emergency response agencies] for rescuing my cousins who faced the same unfortunate adversities of the storm,” said Boyd. “I immediately wanted to help when volunteer work was requested to pay it forward.”
For Moody’s Tech. Sgt. Justin Van Shaffel, being rewarded as a benefactor of the 347th RQG’s good deeds was awestriking. While they were responsible for conducting over 1400 saves, volunteers greeted the rescue assets after their around the clock rescue operations whereas local restaurants and churches fed them.
“The outreach of the community has been overwhelming,” said Van Shaffel. “It’s been great seeing all the volunteers smiling faces and the delicious food has been amazing. Our mission was to take care of the citizens of Texas affected by the storm, and in turn, they showed their gratitude by taking care of us in these hard times.”
Although Harvey destroyed many homes and displaced citizens, it couldn’t demolish the feeling of community for volunteers like Boyd.
“I feel like the world is seeing us all come together, the Texas way,” said Boyd. “We will be stronger.”