When Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area two years ago, the effects were massive. An estimated $127 million worth of damages left many without homes, cars, and other possessions. As the residents of the city began to rebuild, some local celebrities stepped in to help.
It's hard to find someone who has done more than J. J. Watt.
The Houston Texans defensive end began a campaign to raise $200,000 in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. His campaign ended up raising $37 million. Watt shared a two-year update of his relief efforts, and the results are staggering:
Hurricane Harvey Relief:
Two Year Update. pic.twitter.com/7UgjPfu6fy
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 29, 2019
Since that image is a little hard to read, we'll break it down for you.
In two years, donations to Watt's relief campaign have raised enough money to clean up, repair, and rebuild 1,183 homes, with 971 childcare centers and after school programs being rebuilt, serving nearly 109,000 children.
Donations to Watt's campaign have also provided more than 239 million meals for people. Relief efforts have helped give over 337,000 prescriptions to low-income and uninsured patients, while 8,900 people have received physical and mental health services.
Watt has gone to personally visit victims as he helps them get back on their feet. But in the tweet, he thanks the fans and supporters of his campaign.
"None of this would be possible without your generosity," Watt wrote. "Thank you for continuing to shine a light on the beauty of the human spirit."
It's a heart-warming example of what can happen when a community comes together. To learn more about Watt's Hurricane Harvey efforts or donate, visit his website.
