HOU-PAT Relief is an organization for those who now live in Houston, but they’ve never forgot about their hometown, Port Arthur.

Especially in the aftermath of flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey that devastated El Vista and Vista Village.

Consequently, the organization in coordination with Houston Association of Port Arthurans organized and partnered an event named “Come and celebrate life with the neighbor in El Vista and Vista Village!”

The event was Saturday afternoon at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Port Arthur. There was free food and drinks with the food prepared by LeMond Catering of Houston and music by DJ Sweet Pea.

Attendees registered with HOU-PAT Relief so the organization can get personal information, get specific and target needs to make a direct impact.

“I live in Houston, but I grew up in the Vista Village area,” said Arthur “Lou” McElroy. “Many know me because of my father, A.Z. McElroy. HOU-PAT Relief was organized on Sept. 2 right after Harvey. It’s a grassroots organization with 62 members that are either native Port Arthurans or friends of Port Arthur.

“My mantra is Port Arthur loaned sons and daughters to many cities across the country.”

Arthur believes the Port Arthurans bring an economic, social and intellectual network to cities and they’re benefiting from it. He said they want to turn that around and support the city that is supporting them, Port Arthur.

The organization has partnered with the Port Arthur ISD last week to give away 302 backpacks to students. They’ve also partnered with an art gallery in Houston named Gite Gallery where they will give away 150 gift cards totaling $5,000 in Port Arthur.

“Our main focus is long-term,” said Austin McElroy, Arthur’s brother.

Arthur said the organization is building the proper infrastructure and Saturday’s event will be one of many such events to occur, citywide. They added they’re looking forward to the holiday season. Soon, HOU-PAT Relief will focus on meeting winter needs.

The other organization responsible for the El Vista event, Houston Association of Port Arthurans, has been in existence since the 1980s. Their president is Doris Gill.

Patricia Arbuckle of Port Arthur was also instrumental in putting the event together.

“Port Arthur is everywhere,” Arthur said. “You go to any city and there’s someone from Port Arthur there.”

In addition to the two organizations, Joe Washington Jr., former NFL player from Port Arthur, is thinking about partnering and former-NBAer, Stephen Jackson’s organization has partnered already.

Other partnerships include Harold Doucet Jr., councilmembers Kaprina Frank, Raymond Scott Jr. and Thomas Kinlaw III.

They are partnering with local ministers too: the Rev. Donald Frank of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Randy Vaughn of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church and Kurt Washington of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

“We want I-10 to be known as a pipeline of relief. There’s no red tape involved in the process and it’s very streamlined,” Arthur said.

Austin added they are not a fly by night organization.

HOU-PAT & National Association of Port Arthurans, and Harold Doucet Sr., Port Arthur District 4 city councilman, sponsored this event.