As residents in Houston and the surrounding areas continue the deal with the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, the sports world has come together in an effort to assist.
Kelly Talbot, a native Texan and the wife of Edmonton Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, wanted to help. Her initial plan was to send some extra baby formula she had to families in need but finding a drop-off location for donations in Edmonton was difficult.
So she decided to send out a couple tweets looking for assistance and her relief effort took on a life of its own when businesses and citizens of Edmonton began reaching out.
“My family is down there,” Kelly told reporters Friday at the Rogers Place. “Luckily, they’re not in the Houston area. “They’re in the [Dallas/Fort Worth] area. That’s where I’m from, so it’s such a heartfelt thing seeing my state like that. In general, I feel like I would feel like that for any state, but my sister does have her in-laws in there and it’s something that’s super near and dear to my heart.”
What initially began as one person simply trying to do her part has turned into something Kelly began calling “Operation Edmonton Helps Houston.”
Kelly began working with local businesses to organize various donation locations.
After hearing about this, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation got involved.
“When I look at it, if I can help one person or one family, I’m happy. I look at all the people there and they need everything,” Kelly said while fighting back tears. “Families are losing mothers and stuff like that and I think, being a mom, that’s a huge thing for me. They’re not going to have their family and they’re not even going to know why. So if I can help them, feed them or give them diapers I’m a happy person.”
Cam added: “She did this in three to four hours and it just snowballed from there. You see the response this community has given her, and it’s overwhelming the support people are giving, not only to her, but for the families in Houston.”
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