Originally Posted: April 5, 2021
Residents mobilize to help each other during historic Texas blizzard
While many Texans were without necessities like power and water during the winter storm in February, North Texans came together to help each other through it.
Information posted in a group chat for SMU human rights students prompted several to volunteer at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which housed 700 people during the storm.
“It was amazing to see that you got people out there that actually really care for helping the community, especially during times like this,” Bri Tollie said.
The SMU political science junior with a minor in human rights spent 10 hours at the convention center one day but said she and other volunteers usually just came to help during meals when the most help was needed.
The students packaged and distributed food and helped out with clothing donations.
“Nonprofits definitely do a lot for the community behind the scenes, and they don’t do it to try and get recognition or praise,” Tollie said. “They do it just out of the kindness of their heart, and all the volunteers that did come, it was just them taking the time out of their day during the time to do the same.”
Elsewhere, Geoffrey Small, an SMU alumnus, and his wife, Nicole, took in one of his daughters and seven of her sorority sisters after their sorority house on the SMU campus lost power. READ MORE