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Those who ‘lost everything’ getting lots of help from Chesco

Donations gathered at Downingtown VFW are being delivered to help Hurricane Harvey victims.

DOWNINGTOWN » The Downingtown VFW Post 845 joined communities nationwide to gather supplies to send to Texas to help the hurricane victims who “lost everything.”

LaVonne Malandro, of the Downingtown VFW, was inspired to organize a three-day charity drive for the victims of Hurricane Harvey and she was overwhelmed by the community response to help. She asked people to “find it in your hearts to drop off items” to the Downingtown VFW as a part of a statewide drive. She said they wanted to help because many people “lost everything.”

The floodwaters in Houston have damaged more than 185,000 homes, another 9,000 were destroyed, according to a report by The Guardian. The death toll reached 45 by Friday afternoon as search efforts continue. According to the Red Cross, 42,000 people are staying in shelters.

Volunteers helped sort the donations at the Downingtown VFW and they packed the supplies in six FEMA trucks and four pickup truck, which left on Friday to head to Texas. She said people even donated money for the drivers to refuel the trucks and to buy meals on the way.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Malandro said on Friday.

Malandro said she was inspired by a Facebook post by Ron Beam, of AP111, who asked for specific donations to aid the families affected by the catastrophic hurricanes in Texas and Louisi-

Volunteers load some of the donations that are now headed for Houston victims of Hurricane Harvey at the Downingtown VFW this week.