How 3,000 Volunteers Changed a Devastated Texas Town

Operation Blessing has mobilized more than 3,000 volunteers in and around Rockport, Texas.  

Chain saw crews and debris removal groups, fanned out across Rockport, to help returning evacuees. Most people are still without power and water. Volunteers came from as far away as Northern California to aid in first steps of clean up.

“We drove around before we got here and it was just horrendous the damage around all the homes” says an Operation Blessing volunteer named Kyle.

Nothing could have prepared returning residents like Mary Salinas for the massive citywide damage.

“Oh, it was crazy, recounts the teary Salinas. “My granddaughter was crying and crying. It was crazy!”

With the extreme conditions in Rockport there are downed power lines, fires, roof damage, and homes literally destroyed. People want to help but they just don’t know where to begin. So, Operation Blessing has set up a command center in downtown Rockport to coordinate volunteers and their relief efforts.

Pastor Bill Cornelius and Church Unlimited partnered with Operation Blessing to help rebuild lives and the community.

Says Cornelius, “We may be the ones who are experts on the ground of where everything is, but that doesn’t mean we are used to handling this. But Operation Blessing knows how to come in here and just kind of grid the city and then to figure out the next move to get people in homes and help them. It’s just been amazing.”

Salinas is grateful her home weathered Harvey.

“Very, very blessed.  My home is still standing,” she shares.

But, Mary didn’t have thousands of dollars to pay to have downed trees removed from her property. Operation Blessing volunteers did the work for her. 

“I live here by myself. I wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise.” 

Many Operation Blessing volunteers, like Allyssa Neeb, labored in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. 

“We came here cause the Lord really called us to do that,” Allysa says. “Operation Blessing was really organized, they had the ability to put each group with their task and send us out into the community and incorporate the jobs that were needed into the skills sets we had available.”

Together, with CBN partners, we’re bringing hope to this beleaguered Gulf Coast city.

“I mean to me, anyone who is watching CBN or The 700 Club, this is the real deal,” Cornelius points out. “You guys are really doing it. This is like an army of people working to restore a city. That’s impressive. Jesus says He will make all things new. That’s literally what is happening right now.”

“Thank you so, so much!” adds the emotional Salinas.  “I’m so glad things are looking better now.”