Operation Hope Wants Your Help Sending Aid to Sandy Victims
By: Meredith Hillgartner
Updated: November 27, 2012
"He called me he said 'John the damage is so intense and so magnified any help will do,'" Thomas said." I don't think New York or New Jersey is lacking medical services. You know what they are lacking is laborers and people willing to serve."
It has been more than a month since Sandy hit the East Coast and those affected are still calling for help.
"We thought we could just put a team together go to New York and New Jersey and do whatever needs to be done," Thomas said.
Thomas was contacted by his old friend Pastor Jimmy Jacks in Amityville, NY.
Operation Hope is a non-profit group Thomas started in 1998.
He said they were planning a trip in December to do surgeries in Haiti, until Sandy hit.
"Lubbock people have always been willing to give above and beyond the call of duty," Thomas said.
Thomas already has a team in place to go to New York in mid December.
What he is asking Lubbock residents to do is donate.
"The early part of this thing is to collect coats and gloves and hats because the winter is coming upon them," Thomas said. "And [we need to] do whatever needs to be done to help out our fellow Americans."
Along with winter clothes Operation Hope is asking for money and they are preparing to give a pretty penny themselves.
"Every dollar donated Operation Hope will match it up to ten thousand dollars," Thomas said.
Thomas said there is a good reason to ask for money and not other goods.
"We can buy stuff there rather than people giving piles of sheet rock in Lubbock, Texas and me hauling it all the way to New York," Thomas said.
This way Pastor Jacks can get the help he needs.
