Community "Storms" Texas Children's with Support

Texas Children's Hospital was a benefactor of a tremendous wave of community support in the wake of the worst episode of flooding to hit the Texas Medical Center.

From driving in truckloads of water and food to setting up and staffing a mobile kitchen to serve thousands of hot meals, H-E-B Pantry Foods and Central Market came to the aid of Texas Children's and other area hospitals. Many people also stepped up to the plate to help Texas Children's maintain normal operations.

"Texas Children's was truly overwhelmed by the generous response from the community during the flooding," said Katy Gill, director of development. "Individual and corporate contributions enabled the hospital to provide food and critical supplies to patients, family and staff."

Upon learning about the situation in the Texas Medical Center, H-E-B quickly mobilized to help. The grocery chain delivered a truckload each of bottled water and packaged snack foods. It also brought in the H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen, a 4-year-old, self-contained food preparation unit. H-E-B uses the kitchen for on-site food preparation at H-E-B "Feast of Sharing" holiday dinners and during natural disaster relief efforts.

The mobile kitchen fed hot meals, fruit, packaged snacks, soft drinks and bottled water to families of Texas Children's patients, along with patients, families, staff and volunteers at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and The Methodist Hospital. Some employees' families pitched in as well.

Eric Nelson, the 16-year-old son of executive vice president and chief financial officer Sally Nelson, and Ben Wallace, the 18-year-old son of president and chief executive officer Mark A. Wallace, spent the entire day June 9 driving trucks to pick up food and deliver it to the hospital.

Jemma Thomas, director of Business Services, received the disaster page while at the movies with her husband, Chris. While his wife reported to work, Chris volunteered, staying until 7 a.m. June 9, to help deliver food as well as put batteries into and distribute flashlights.

Neighbors also made donations of flashlights, batteries and sump pumps. Others delivered food. One man solicited a donation from The Original Pasta Co., which provided large quantities of pasta, bread and salad.

"This heartwarming response from the community has reminded us of how caring our neighbors are and how highly they regard the work we do at Texas Children's," Sally Nelson said. "We are extremely grateful to all of them."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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