EVANSTON — Evanston residents and businesses were moved into action over Labor Day weekend to help those who have been displaced from their homes in Texas by Hurricane Harvey. After seeing reports of Harvey’s devastation, Evanston women Crystal Thomason and Britany Erickson began talking about possible ways to help. 

Thomason said she began looking through Facebook posts from organizations in the Houston area that were providing relief to those affected by the hurricane. Her search led her to posts from Holy Covenant UMC in Katy, Texas, asking for help with specific items. She reached out to the organization via Facebook and plans grew from there. 

Thomason and Erickson sprang into action, launching a local supply drive and recruiting two local men, Garrett Erickson (Britany’s husband) and Sonny Fraughton — who has family in the Houston area — to drive to Texas with a truckload of supplies. Word of the drive was spread largely through Facebook, with requests to bring donations to Evanston’s Coldwell Banker Realty office.

By the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 1, a large pile of supplies had grown in the office as a steady stream of people dropped off donations. The two continued accepting donations on Saturday, loading supplies into a truck in the Smith’s parking lot.

By Saturday afternoon, Thomason and Erickson said they had a huge pile of supplies to donate, and the two men set out Sunday morning to make the 22-hour drive to the Houston area. Donated items included cases of bottled water, cases of diapers, personal hygiene items, canned food and even large bags of dog food. 

People also made cash donations, and by Saturday afternoon the two women said the monetary donations were close to $1,500.

“There are too many people and businesses who have donated to name them all,” Thomason said.

Some businesses made large monetary donations, while others donated supplies. 

The pair said that Evanston has many ties to the Houston area due to the oil industry, with many people moving between the two areas more than once.

“We’ve been in contact with the church that asked for help,” Erickson said, adding that there is a definite plan in place for getting the supplies to where they are needed. 

The two women said the donations had continued all day Saturday and added they are grateful for the way Evanston residents had stepped up to help. They said that similar drives have happened in the past when disasters have taken place around the country and that they have always been successful as the community is moved to help those in need.

Dr. Nate Lester and other local volunteers are also headed to Texas on Saturday, Sept. 9. They will deliver equipment and supplies to those in need in the Houston area. Donations can be dropped off at the Uinta County Herald before 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8.