On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey came out swinging at Fort Bend.  We, as a community, took a big hit.  An enormous hit.  Entire neighborhoods found themselves under mandatory evacuation with flood waters rapidly rising.  Families fled their homes with the clothes on their backs and little else.  Harvey left so many stranded and in desperate need of assistance.  Shelters quickly opened up at local high schools and our local community non-profit, Common Threads, found itself as the main location for donations of clothing and personal items.  Donations filled the main building as well as the Jane Long Gymnasium!  The generosity of the community was overwhelming. Common Threads had to make an unusual request to the community to hold off on donations for the time being, knowing the need would still be there in the days and weeks ahead. 

Fort Bend County is one of the fastest growing suburban areas in Texas.  LCISD is a sprawling school district encompassing a massive economic spread.  And as our community grew by leaps and bounds, the needs of the community grew and Common Threads was there expanding along with us.  From the Hope on The Brazos event where families receive school supplies, shoes, clothing, vaccinations, and assistance with online school forms, to the Winter Coat Drive, to assistance as needed all year long, Common Threads has been there with open arms.

Eventually things will get back to normal, whatever our new normal may be, and Common Threads is in it for the LONG run.  Whether it takes days or weeks or months or, in many cases, years, Common Threads will be there.  Common Threads has consistently been there lending a hand (or two or three), making sure every family that walks through their doors is treated with respect, dignity, love, and filled with hope.  Hope is what the community needs right now.  Hope that this will get better.  Hope that they can survive these hurdles.  Hope that their normal is not as far off as first thought. 

Any donation, no matter how large or small, will make a difference.  Together, we will survive this.  We will come out stronger than before.  We are Texas Strong – Fort Bend Strong – LCISD Strong.