Years of work go to brighten Texas victims days

For much of the past week Sidney residents have worked to help provide for the needs of Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Spearheaded by Sidney VFW Post 610, Adams Trucking and Sidney Public Schools, local residents have responded with food, water, clothing and other items needed by hurricane victims.

One set of packages has been years in the making, although their donor didn't know it at the time.

"I saw an article on Facebook that said they could use all kinds of items," said Evelyn Gerih of Sidney. "I started thinking, 'what can I do to help?' "

Gerih said one of the needs – for blankets – caught her eye, which brought her thinking around to a closet full of afghans in an extra room.

"They might not be the most practical thing," Gerih says, "but if it will help make someone warm or happy, I'm happy to send them."

The afghans are a mixture of subdued and bright colors, and both loose and tight crochets in varied sizes. Gerih said she plans to send 20 large afghans and 5 that are smaller "baby" afghans.

"There are a lot of bright colors in some of them," Gerih said. "If it will bright someone's day, I love to give it."

Gerih got the first benefit from the afghans, the making of which she said has been her "therapy" for many years, particularly since she lost her husband in 2007. She's crocheted for more than 35 years, but when her husband passed, "it helped fill the void."

Beyond that, she has no real use for the pieces, and is glad they'll go to others' enjoyment.

"If someone can use them, that's the way I want it," she said.