Hurricane Harvey was detrimental for many students and their families, but while this was an atrocity for thousands, it simultaneously became a realization that our community will do its absolute most to restore itself to its former glory. Students instinctively responded with the urgency to help those who were affected by the storm in a variety of ways. Hurricane Harvey was detrimental for many students and their families, but while this was an atrocity for thousands, it simultaneously became a realization that our community will do its absolute most to restore itself to its former glory. Students instinctively responded with the urgency to help those who were affected by the storm in a variety of ways.
With the mindset and determination to help those impacted by the hurricane,  the disbelief and heartache continued to linger within the community and with Neil Potnis.
“To see the amount of damage and destruction Hurricane Harvey was causing in our area was very difficult,” senior Neil Potnis said. “A lot of the times we do not necessarily realize that these types of events can really happen to any of us.”
Potnis gathered his grief and began a fundraiser for Harvey victims.
“The immediate thought that went through my mind as I saw all of these events fold out was, ‘how do I use my own resources to help those affected by this hurricane,’” Potnis said.
Shock, terror, heartache – all were aspects that the hurrincane brought upon the community that sparked the minds of many like Potnis to begin raising money for those who were affected.
“I decided to design shirts and sell them in the hopes of raising money for those who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Definitely one of the goals of my multi-media organization, Blue Monkey Productions, is helping those in need,” Potnis said.Over hundreds of dollars were raised through selling Hurricane Harvey t-shirts. The efforts of Blue Monkey Productions were then directly donated to the JJ Watt Foundation Houston Flood Relief Fund.
“We wanted to donate the money raised to a charity near our area whose goal was to specifically put the money towards those affected. In terms of damage, Hurricane Harvey was just a prologue for what is to ensue. Folks were affected by this damage will need relief money to get them and their families back on track,” Potnis said.
Social media became an asset for promoting charitable efforts as direct messaging, Tweeting, and Instagramming grabbed the attention of many students in supporting their cause.
“We were able raise hundreds of dollars for Hurricane Harvey victims which goes to show the compassion and good of the people,” Potnis said. The compassion of those raising awareness for organization funds ignited the slow rebuild and regrowth process our community desperately needed. No matter how large or how small the contribution may have been, all was utilized towards the long journey of restoration. Potnis was just one example of the hundred of thousands individuals that began to raise funds for increasing the hope for anyone affected by this historic Hurricane Harvey.