Houston

College Students Help Victims of Harvey

Texas A&M University students have joined together to help families impacted by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Students head back to campus Wednesday after classes were canceled for two days during the height of the storm. Many of the students have family that have lost their homes or are still trapped by high water.

"If we have breath in our lungs and our legs are working just fine, why can't we help," Texas A&M junior Staci Rende said.

The idea to help was started by Texas A&M senior Greta Swift, who has family in the Katy area.

"My family is OK, but they are trappd in their homes because the area around them is flooded," she said. "I contacted a few people and started a groupme."

Soon there were 150 student organizations on the groupme, which represents 10,000 students. In a few hours they created a website, a plan of action and a hashtag — #bthoharvey.

"Its really bad, but we have to keep praying about it," Texas A&M sophomore Rob Williams said.

Williams, who is a forward for the Aggies basketball team, ssaid his father lives in Houston.

"It's just terrible what is going on," he said. "It reminds me of Louisianna and Hurricane Katrina. We can't just stand by. We all have to pitch in and do something."

In five hours, students collected donated items to fill up half of a 40-foot trailer.

Online: bthoharvey.org

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