Events to help Houston flood victims pop up around region
Residents, business owners, military personnel and firefighters are planning events in the coming days to benefit Houston, a city of 2.3 million people that, in some places, has seen as much as 50 inches of rain this week.
Kicking things off on Friday are members of Waterford Fire Engine Co. No. 1 and the Waterford firefighters union. From 6 to 10 a.m. they’ll be collecting water for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall last Friday as a Category 4 storm and continued dumping rain for days.
The event, occurring in conjunction with the A.B. CDL Training Center, Jammin’ 107.7 (WWRX) and Soft Rock 106.5 (WBMW), will take place at the Jordan Fire House at 89 Rope Ferry Road.
On Saturday, the folks of Whaling City MMA will be on hand to pack an 18-wheeler full of water and nonperishable food items at the New London Athletics Center, 426 Broad St., New London. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon. According to a post about the event, Tom Moysey of the A.B. CDL Training Center plans to drive the truck to Houston once it’s loaded.
Also on Saturday, the Three Rivers Young Marines will set up in front of the Norwich Police Headquarters at 70 Thames St. to collect money for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Organizers are asking that people who wish to help out bring only money, not goods. The effort will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We have young marines in south Texas and we want to help them, their families and their neighbors,” a flier advertising the event reads.
Anyone with questions about the Three Rivers event can call Patrick McMahon at (860) 222-5024.
On Saturday and Sunday, Stuart Peckham, who helps organize regular rallies for President Donald Trump in Pawcatuck, will be raising funds for the victims of the flooding. Peckham said he has been in touch with the American Red Cross and plans to donate the funds to them.
To donate to his cause, head to the intersection of state routes 2 and 78 on Saturday after 8 a.m. or Sunday between 2 p.m. and dark.