Local Mom With Strong Louisiana Roots Leads Relief Efforts
HALTOM CITY (CBSDFW.COM) - Darla Patterson felt helpless as she watched floods devastate her childhood neighborhood in Louisiana, as well as the surrounding areas some 40,000 people call home.
"I was laying in my bed crying, wondering what can we do to help my family and friends in Louisiana," Patterson says.
With the help of her community, the North Texas mom got to work, collecting necessities like cleaning supplies, diapers, water and other items. She and her family filled a small trailer with the goods. Her husband drove it to Louisiana, where he will spend several days helping families in need.
That's when Raider Express rolled in. The Fort Worth based, family-owned company offered one of its 18-wheelers to help ship over any more supplies Patterson and her community could collect.
"The Eggletons are a great family. It's a family owned company and they want to help out wherever they can," said Raider Express employee Ryan Morris.
When a tornado devastated Moore, Oklahoma a few years ago, the company partnered with local schools in a similar effort.
"The Lord brought this truck to us to fill to serve our community back home," said Patterson, with tears in her eyes.
The company has also offered an additional truck to send to Louisiana if the community collects enough supplies to fill both trucks.
It's a challenge Patterson has accepted.
Donations are being accepted at the Bethesda Community Church in Haltom City. The 1st truck is scheduled to depart for Louisiana on Thursday, August 25th.
