“I came home the day after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, and I just couldn’t believe the damage I saw,” said Erica Mathis an Army veteran and hurricane Harvey victim.
Matis was one of millions effected by Hurricane Harvey, a never before seen natural disaster that put the nation’s 4th largest city to its knees.
“When I opened the front door and walked inside, I smelled this musty, moldy smell, and I heard a squish-squish sound under my feet … I felt this overwhelming sadness. I was so sad,” added Matis.
Hoping to raise victims like Matis back from the hopelessness she and others felt that night, retired Houston Rockets players and staff teamed up with Sailors from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Houston and members from the other military branches Friday, Nov. 9, to help restore two veteran-owned homes, both destroyed by Harvey as part of the 2018 Hoops for Troops community service event.
“I live here in the city of Houston and I wanted to celebrate Veterans Day weekend by giving back to a local veteran who served this great country,” said Mario Antoine Elie, a former Rockets Champion.
Hoops for Troops is a year-round initiative led by the NBA and partnered with the Department of Defense to honor active and retired service members and their families.
The association reached out to the SBP Construction company to help spearhead the remodeling projects for the two qualifying homes. Homes were selected after a thorough application process that allowed Matis to be one of two deserving Houstonians to be approved, said Cli Roberts, SBP executive director.
“A friend of mine told me about local charities so I went online and filled out an application,” said James Carmouche, a disabled government employee and other selected recipient. “One day I was working in my home on a ladder when the doorbell rang. Inspectors came inside, looked around and told me I could put my tools away. They were going to fix everything. I was happy as hell!”
An estimated 13 million people were affected, and 135,000 homes damaged or destroyed by Harvey.
Navy Machinery Repairman 1st Class Juan Montelongo, the leading petty officer of Navy Recruiting Station Lake Jackson, Texas, remembers Harvey. He put sandbags and barricades up where the city needed to help control flooding. He felt accomplishment being where he needed to be to help.
“Sailors do community service around the world and throughout our local communities,” said Montelongo. “It’s just something we do. I’m proud to be here on Veteran’s Day weekend and to continue helping others.”
“I know my momma is looking down on all this and she is so happy and proud that her home is being taken care of by her local Rockets team, the military and all the volunteers,” said Matis. I am so grateful. This makes me so proud to be a born and raised Houstonian.”