Clovis Unified students, bus drivers unite to deliver relief to Harvey victims

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hurricane Harvey drove some Clovis Unified bus drivers to hit the gas on a relief effort.

Bella Matney watched the disaster unfold on TV, and even though she was half a continent away from it, she felt like she could do something about it.

"We heard of all the flooding on the news, and my parents were like, 'Why don't we start a diaper drive,'" she said.

The third grader got the okay from her principal at Dry Creek Elementary School, and she made a big delivery Saturday. Sparkle Albert knew the distance was too much to overcome on her own.

"I wish I could go over there and personally help them, but I can't," Albert said. "This is the closest thing I can do to give back."

But she made a delivery on Saturday as well. Their diapers, and clothes, and water, and everything under the sun are loaded onto this fast-filling school bus spending this weekend and next in front of the Clovis Unified Administration Building.

Two of the district's school bus drivers are taking up the collection, and they'll drive it all out to New Caney, Texas, just northeast of Houston.

"People need help, they've lost everything and the least we can do is show our love from California to Texas," driver Miss Cathy said.

Miss Cathy and Miss Clorinda are ready for the two-and-a-half day drive. Cathy actually did a longer one 12 years ago when Katrina struck the gulf coast, so she has an idea of what to expect when she pulls into town.

"It was just an overwhelming response," she said. "They were so thankful and so blessed to have whatever we could give them."

This trip is still a couple weeks away. They're still raising money to pay for gas, and collecting donations and notes for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, hoping all of this can really help.