LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – The Sandy Creek Neighborhood is located in Leander. ISERVE365 is supporting the area, which was also affected by the deadly flood on July 4th.
“I discovered this small group. They had only a few tents set up along with some supplies, and I volunteered my help. I didn’t intend to manage an entire center,” said Kim Glawson, president of ISERVE365.
Glawson, together with her daughter, traveled to Kerrville on July 10. She mentioned that the community was flooded with support, which led them to Sandy Creek.
“We carried our clothing and pillows to the back of our truck and spent the last two weeks sleeping in my vehicle,” Glawson stated.
She mentioned that a friend from the Shreveport Volunteer Network provided them with a camper to reside in. They intend to utilize it for upcoming outreach efforts.
She mentioned that the family she encountered at Sandy Creek was flooded with gifts and support from locals. Therefore, she volunteered to assist in managing the process.
They currently operate from the local community center, and the initiative has expanded. Glawson mentioned that they are providing individuals with essential items such as cleaning products and personal care items. She noted that contributions come from members of the community, different areas of the state, and across the country. She also collaborates with Matthew 25 Ministries to obtain trailers loaded with supplies.
That’s all that God does,” Glawson stated. “Whenever I go to a disaster, He simply sends people. He sends remarkable individuals who bring supplies. I just organize it and distribute it all.
She mentioned that they also offer meals for lunch and dinner with the support of World Central Kitchen and individuals who volunteer to prepare the food.
“We take them out on side-by-side vehicles, and the locals here go from house to house, delivering food to all the sites, all the workers, the volunteers, the community, everything,” Glawson said.
As per a press release from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office dated July 22, 10 fatalities have been linked to the flooding.
There was significant loss here, a great deal of it,” Glawson stated. “We have a man who lost his entire family. He saw his whole family carried away. There was a family that came to us and shared that they had to ride their house down the creek until it became stuck on a tree in order to escape.
Glawson mentioned that their upcoming task is to assist individuals in reconstructing their residences.
We require a large amount of construction materials,” Glawson stated. “Some of them don’t have a place to live. Some had to demolish their homes because they were flooded, making them uninhabitable.
They are gathering materials to accomplish this.
Even if it’s gift cards for Home Depot so they can get what they need,” Glawson said. “I don’t mind if you send a piece of plywood, just send it.
Glawson mentioned that they are also gathering appliances to provide to families who have lost theirs.
Tomorrow will mark two weeks since they departed from Tyler County. She mentioned that they don’t have any intentions of leaving anytime soon.
This group is supporting one another,” Glawson stated. “God is also moving in the hearts of these individuals; it’s truly remarkable. When I sense the Lord telling me it’s time to leave, that’s when I will.
