Donations Pour In To Aid Houston's Hurricane Victims

BOSTON (CBS) -- Donation boxes are going up across the city Tuesday so Bostonians can send relief to those who lost everything in the flooding after Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

The bin at City Hall was full less than an hour after the building opened and city hall workers barely had time to sort the items before more items came in.

One of the people dropping off items was on their second trip.

"This is my second time here," Pat Wallace said. "I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I could give money, but decided to buy some things."

Mayor Marty Walsh's 'Help For Houston' drive will last from Tuesday to Thursday.

More: Harvey Flooding Disaster: How You Can Help

He said the drive arose in part after a huge response from Boston residents asking what they could do to help Harvey victims.

Some of the people bringing donations, like Maureen McDermott, have connections to Houston.

"My best friend lives in Texas. She just moved three weeks ago and they're under mandatory evacuation," McDermott said. "I'm hoping she can get out. She has twin seven-year-old boys and a four-month-old. Today I brought diapers, formula, things thought other people could benefit from."

Mayor Marty Walsh says that he's not surprised at the outpouring of generosity. He says that's Boston.

"Two little boys and their father bringing in Pampers for families. It's pretty moving." Walsh said. "I mean that fact that Bostonians are responding in such a positive way. We just started this."

Walsh added that Boston has been on the receiving end of a helping hand.

"During the Marathon Bombing in 2013, the love that we got from around the world, and the prayers and the support from around the world was absolutely incredible," he said. "The beauty of being American: in tough times, we stand up for each other."

Nancy from Weymouth put a few bags of back-to-school clothes in the bin before going to work. She told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope the plight of people in Houston hits close to home.

"We're doing this because we have a family, and we're lucky enough to be able to get clothes and things ready for our kids going back to school, and I think about those poor families, it breaks my heart," Nancy said.

Wallace says she's also not surprised by the generous donations.

"I think Americans are good. I think we're very charitable and we think of other people," Wallace said.

Massachusetts is one of a dozen states responding to the need for help in Texas--and on Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner specifically called Mayor Walsh, thanking him for the aid he had already sent.

Volunteers will collect new clothes, blankets, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, and non-perishable food at several locations:

• City Hall (3rd floor lobby and 5th floor Mayor's Office lobby)
• 1010 Massachusetts Ave (5th floor)
• Bolling Building (1st floor lobby)
• 26 Court Street (1st floor lobby)
• Boston Centers for Youth and Families sites

Lynn Levine, from the Massachusetts Red Cross, said monetary donations were also helpful.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports

In:
• Hurricane Harvey
• Doug Cope
• Marty Walsh