Flood survivors and volunteers now entering week four of cleanup take a hard earned break from the muck-and-gut at San Angelo’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1815
“This is a free day for the community, for flood survivors, to say that there is hope. To give back, to lift the spirits up for our flood survivors.” Says John Wojtkun, (pronounced like “Watch-kun”), post commander.
Wojtkun manned the griddle: “Hot links, hot dogs, we’ve got chips, drinks and snow cones. Everything is free.”
“We have a free concert. Right now, a lot of these kids are cooped up in the house and probably bouncing around like a yo-yo.”
Out on the lawn, bounce houses and a slip-and-slide kept the kids entertained while the grown-ups got some much-needed support.
Dozens dropped by just to say howdy and have a snow cone, chatting with old friends and family from around town.
The flood relief effort at the VFW enters its 21st day: food, clothing, cleanup kits, hygiene and household items are available for all those affected or in need.
“We’ve had probably 25 trucks and trailers come from all around the state and nationwide: even some stuff from Kerr County that they had too much of.
“Kelly Self, Quartermaster for post 1815, has coordinated 98% of this effort, in coordination with the Statewide VFW. The whole state has come together, and really the nation with all of these different volunteers from around the country.”
Driving along East Angelo draw towards Browning Street, the path of the flooding is lined with debris and remnants of the houses that still lie empty.
“A lot of them are not starting from square one, they’re starting from minus one. They had a house, now they don’t.”
Cody Golden of VFW Post 4372 in Odessa helped run the line out front:
“We had one lady say ‘I wasn’t affected by the floods, can I still get some of these?’, and we said of course, this isn’t just about flood relief, this help is open to everyone who needs it.”
Extreme Tour’s “Heartland” series features musicians from the states and Europe. They’ve made two stops now at the San Angelo VFW, playing and performed poetry and rap.
Gospel rapper “Too Turnt” is from Ohio. He started with Extreme Tour this year in Wauseon, OH.
“We’ve been all over the states this tour. We’re out here trying to give back a little, have fun with the community.”
You can get his mixtape “Life After Addiction” through Reverb Nation, or if you ask nicely.
One volunteer, who did not share his name, carried bags and pack tables up as the event was closing. He revealed that he was now homeless, his apartment was flooded out.
“I’d take some of this stuff but I don’t have anywhere to put it, my house is still boarded up.”
