BEAUMONT, Texas — People across Southeast Texas are coming together to offer help for families ravaged by Hurricane Helene after it tore through several states and left 161 people dead.
Now the Texas chapter of "Comeback Coolers" is collecting coolers and drinks to give families who are rebuilding.
Texas chapter president Britni McPayne says the organization is preparing to send about 200 coolers filled with drinks to those struggling to put their lives back together in Georgia and South Carolina.
"We've been through the storm, we know how it feels," said McPayne.
When disaster strikes it doesn't take much for Southeast Texans to come together.
"There is a light at the end of the tunnel," said McPayne.
The Texas chapter of Comeback Coolers is always on board to help others.
"The original Mississippi group, where it started, they are the ones that came from over there and brought coolers for Hurricane Harvey and since then for Ike," said McPayne.
Britni McPayne along with the congregation members from two Southeast Texas churches unloaded tons of donations on Tuesday.
"We try to get them something they could have some cold drinks in, something to put ice in or medication in," said McPayne.
McPayne will be driving about 200 coolers to Baton Rouge which will then be transported to Mississippi, and then will make their final journey to Helene victims in Georgia and South Carolina.
Aaron Crowley from One City Church is planning to be part of the journey from start to finish.
"I usually link up with whoever's going somewhere, taking stuff," said Crowley.
Crowley says he's offered his services after several storms and each time it has felt rewarding.
"It was a helping hand and a smile from someone coming to help us. I want to be able to extend that same hand and smile to someone probably going through probably one of the toughest time in their life," said Crowley.
McPayne says you can still drop off items to the One City Church in Beaumont until noon tomorrow, or the Lollipop Stop Children's Center in Vidor until 5 p.m.