Town supports hurricane victims, even 4-legged ones

After Hurricane Harvey struck the state of Texas, images of its devastating aftermath spread throughout news and social media platforms. As a result, many brave men and women journeyed to Texas in hopes of rescuing its victims and lending a hand to those who lost everything.

Although not everyone can devote that same high level of service to hurricane victims, people all around the country as well as members of the Westfield community, have shown their love and support through a variety of ways.

Westfield resident Leslie Crowe and her sons recently adopted Dallas, a Hurricane Harvey dog from the Home for Good Dog Rescue, a foster-based service in Berkeley Heights that has rescued more than 5,000 dogs as a non-profit organization. According to the Communications Director, Mr. Matthew Holowienka, most of the dogs they received from Texas have done well with their foster families and their permanent families.

Dallas, just one of over a hundred dogs placed in New Jersey shelters after Harvey hit, is a 6-month old black lab mix who was living in a Texas shelter at the time of the disaster. When Crowe heard about these dogs being flown to New Jersey, adopting one was a no-brainer, she said.

“When you see these pictures of scared dogs floating in crates or tied up, your heart breaks,” said Crowe.

While Dallas settled in with her new family, Westfield Resident and Houston-native Mr. Benjamin Montez formed a partnership with Mr. Rory Chadwick to provide support for the Harvey victims. Montez found Chadwick on Facebook when Chadwick made a post about his empathy for and desire to help those affected by the hurricane since he had a similar experience just a few years ago when Hurricane Sandy hit.

Montez organized a mass-donation event in Westfield that collected 24 pallets of supplies to fill an entire tractor-trailer. He later brought all of these donations to Houston, where he met up with Chadwick to personally distribute them. “We assisted a number of pet shelters, daycares, schools, families and church groups,” said Montez.

In addition, some Westfield schools are getting involved in hurricane relief.

So far the Kindness Club of Roosevelt Intermediate school has raised $1,100 for the Hurricane Harvey relief cause. More specifically, club members have geared their attention towards the Texas schools by supporting a fund known as Adopt a Classroom.

RIS is working directly with Kolter Elementary School in Houston and has already been able to purchase supplies for them via their Amazon wish list.  The success that the Kindness Club has had in their fundraising is a direct result of a feeling of urgent obligation to help Harvey victims.

According to Club Advisor Ms. Cristina Caprara, members of the club began working together a couple of days before the school year started.

“While the school year did not start until September 6th, the recent devastation of Hurricane Harvey motivated us to start our next fundraiser a bit early this school year,” said Caprara.