People all across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania are mobilizing to help those in need in Texas-- including the thousands of children who are out of school due to hurricane Harvey.
Bottled water, cleaning products, food and other supplies...
The space inside the Grease Monkey garage in Swoyersville is so packed with supplies that employees have not been able to work on vehicles for the past few days.
Instead, they have another focus. "We're collecting medical supplies, triage stuff, feminine products, hygiene products," noted Heath Rusinko.
Grease Monkey employees helped fill more than a half dozen trailers in communities like Tunkhannock and Watstontown where drivers there will head to Texas this week.
The business has two of its own trailers with donations headed down Friday to help those impacted by hurricane Harvey.
"These are people who lived through Agnes..that's the reason they are doing this. Everyone in the Wyoming Valley that lived through Agnes, its the least they can do" said Rusinko.
Grease Monkey is collecting just a few more items. Laura Morrissey, a Luzerne County teacher, is collecting school supplies and communication devices for special needs children for Grease Monkey to take down south.
"If you have a tablet left over or an old cell phone or video games, this can soothe children on the autistic spectrum and help them communicate," said Morrissey.
Laura and her friend Daniel Maughton set up a collection site at St. Andrews Parrish in Wilkes-Barre. So far, they've collected one backpack, but they are hoping for the community's support.
"Even if its just one group of kids or a huge group of kids, anything will be appreciated," said Morrissey.
"They need everything they can get right now because Houston is a disaster," added Maughton.
They will be collecting backpacks until Thursday at St. Andrew's Parrish located 316 Parrish St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702,
Grease Monkey Garage employees plan to spent some time in Texas helping those in need.
This story, by Jayne Ann Bugda, originally appeared with video on pahomepage.com
