City hits Harvey welcome kit goal

Yesterday, Mayor Steve Adler thanked Austinites for their overwhelming response to the call for welcome kits to greet those displaced by Hurricane Harvey. In just a week, the city reached its goal of gathering 5,000 to 6,000 kits. “We’ve heard reports (of) stores sold out of blankets, towels, and pillows,” Adler said in a Monday press release. “So many people made welcome kits for our guests that the Austin Disaster Relief Network had to expand the dropoff locations from one to four. This kind of overwhelming response really makes our guests feel at home here in Austin.” According to the release, anyone who has an assembled kit but hasn’t turned it in yet may still do so, because the surplus can be sent to other cities. Adler also teased a special announcement he will make today, which he said will be another opportunity for the community to support those affected by Harvey. Stay tuned.