Chamber helps town affected by Harvey
The Westlake Chamber of Commerce is taking on a new fundraising effort, aiming to remove some of the burden from a sister chamber affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The city of Lumberton, near Beaumont, was hit hard by the storm. Major roads were blocked by water. Homes, businesses and churches flooded. Lumberton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandra Womack watched the landscape change before her eyes.
“Nobody still believes that all of it happened — even those of us living in it,” Womack said. “Several businesses closed; some moved to other locations while the business is rebuilding. Two I know closed permanently.”
In a time when local businesses could really use the help, the chamber isn’t in a position to do so — Harvey came through just a few weeks before the Lumberton chamber was planning to host its annual Village Creek Festival, which helps the chamber raise most of its funds for the year. With sponsors struggling to recover from the floods, the event had to be canceled. Typically funds go toward scholarships for Lumberton High School students and grants for small businesses. One of the chamber’s two staff members left, Womack said, and she decided not to replace the person.
“We will just be tightening our belts, and we won’t be able to do things we would do, unless we find other sponsors,” Womack said. “It’s real hard to go after members for money when they’re dealing with their own losses.”
Lainey Melnick, a travel consultant and a new member of the Westlake Chamber of Commerce, is working with the chamber’s Humanitarian Services Committee to get donations to a GoFundMe page for the Lumberton chamber. The fundraising goal is $35,000, or just about the Lumberton chamber’s annual budget, including scholarships and grants.
“In Westlake, we’re lucky — we have a lot,” Melnick said, “so it’s good for us to be able to give back and help others. We’re just starting with promoting this and just hoping our members will step up.”
Meanwhile, the Westlake chamber will hold its annual Wonderfest from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Westlake High School. The event will feature a visit by Santa, a petting zoo, train rides, a bounce house, face painting and more. Donations of coats, socks, blankets and hats for homeless people can be made at the event. For more information, go to westlakechamber.com.