A group of Port Neches-Groves High School students found a way to help their community recover from catastrophic flooding while on break from school.

For eight days, five of those being 12 hour days, the students set out to rip out wet carpet and pull out soggy sheetrock in dozens of homes.

“My sister Katelyn and I were brainstorming on how to get the band involved in helping with Harvey relief, and so we decided to make a Facebook group for home assistance including band students, parents, and alumni, drum major Weston McCoy said. “I am very grateful to all the people that volunteered their time so selflessly for our program.”

McCoy who had heard that some of the fellow band members’ homes were damaged contacted Band Director Alex Wells.

“We talked to neighbors and parents and before you know it, students became involved,” Wells said. “At one point, the lowest number we had participating was 10 to 15 and as many as 40 to 50 students working. We would divide into different teams, depending on what needed to be done.”

Wells said it was a great experience seeing the students give up their time to help others and seeing how they wanted to give back to those who lost so much.

“It’s astonishing; some of the kids’ homes were flooded and they came out and worked with us a few days,” he said. “They didn’t want to stay at their home, they wanted to come out and help. I was blown away.”

As news of the volunteerism spread, other students joined in including choir and theater students. In addition, principal Scott Ryan and counselor Mr. Sims joined in to help.

The students are proud of the work they did for others.

“It was just so amazing to see all these students come together and help the community out,” Ava Lewis said.. “They have such a desire to help wherever they can. The group made such a positive impact on the community and I couldn’t be more proud to be a leader of such a great group.”

Olivia Gerald felt the same, calling it rewarding to see how happy the people of the community were when they arrived at their doorstep to help.

“It was even better when they wanted a picture of all of the band at the end of the day,” Gerald said. “I enjoyed every minute of it and I am so beyond proud of the band for taking time out of their day to make a difference in someone else’s.”

If working long hours doing demolition work wasn’t enough, some of the students did just that as well as marching practice.

“The last three days we had a chance to have some marching practice and worked in the morning,” Wells said. “Some of the kids worked in the morning then let me yell at them at marching practice after. They are such great kids.”