Wildfires struck the Panhandle last week, leaving devastation some ranchers and farmers on the South Plains could identify with.
“This story, we’ve lived it, we’ve survived it, so if we have a chance to give back or to help somebody out in a time of need, that’s what we do,” Dickens County Farmer Clayt Bridge said.
Bridge’s group left Sunday to haul bales of hay. They headed north not knowing where they were actually going at the time.
“We called them and they said, ‘We’ve got a special place for some of this hay, they’re needing some hay for their horses,’ so we’re headed over to the Crockett Ranch to give those horses something to eat,” Bridge said.
His caravan wasn’t the only one hitting the road to help.
“It just makes your heart warm, we’ve met other people loading up and we’re continuing to meet people that have unloaded trucks and trailers headed back,” Bridge said, “You just get a big West Texas wave from every single one of them because they’ve been there, and you’re headed there, and you’re all tied to this and doing what you can…it touches you.”
Relief Organizer Chance Britt sent hay and is gathering non-perishable donations. Britt said the outpouring of support is touching, but not surprising for the West Texas community.
“The more miles on the truck the better, that’s just love from West Texas, and that’s what we do,” Britt said, “That’s ‘Love From Lubbock.’ West Texans are the greatest people on the planet and I’m proud to be from here.”
