Story and Photos and Captions by Roberto Baltodano, American Red Cross.

Texas Conservation Corps (TXCC) is an AmeriCorps service program of American YouthWorks, a nationally recognized job training nonprofit headquartered in Austin, Texas.  Each year the program engages over 100 diverse youth and college-aged young adults in critical, hands-on conservation and disaster service projects, offering skills and opportunities to solve real life community and environmental problems.

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Travis Hudson is one of many residents being helped by the TXCC Team.

After the recent floods that affected Southeast Texas, several units of the TXCC Disaster Response came to help across several of the affected counties. They set up shop at Deweyville High School, and from there, the teams connect with residents in need. Every morning, they deploy to clean debris and muck out damaged homes, readying them up for the reconstruction phase.

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The team works long hours to bring a little hope to those in need. (Photo and Caption: Roberto Baltodano, American Red Cross)

At the request of Anna Tangredi, Voluntary Agency Liaison for the Texas Department of Public Safety – Human Services Section, the Red Cross provided these teams with hot meals and some of the elements they are using to carry out their work. This included shovels, rakes, masks, gloves and safety goggles.

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After disasters like floods, the Red Cross distributes the same elements to impacted communities – right along with free hugs, water and hot meals.
Thanks to the hard work of good people like the TXCC, communities in need can feel hope is alive. Kudos to all helpers across Southeast Texas!

#SETXFloods #RedCross