Relief workers head to Rockport for support

A group of relief workers from Gonzales and Austin have joined forces and have traveled to Rockport to feed first responders and victims left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

"Our priority is to provide hot, homemade meals to hurricane-stricken Rockport, Texas first responders and anyone else who wants to eat,” local business owner Chris Kappmeyer said as the team assembled Wednesday morning in Gonzales. "We will be barbecuing sausage, chicken, brisket, boudin, etc."

Kappmeyer has set up a Go Fund Me page for the effort and made a plea to his family and friends for help.

"As most of you know, I love Rockport. It has been one of the biggest memory makers for my family and friends," he said on his Go Fund Me page. "We own a couple houses on Key Allegro Island as vacation rentals but we are also able to use them from time to time."

Kappmeyer hunkered down in a Portland hotel last week as Hurricane Harvey threatened the coast. On Friday, he was one of the first people to step foot on Key Allegro.

"It was a humbling experience when I got there. I had heard rumors, as I was driving to Rockport, that Key Allegro had been leveled. To my surprise that was not the case. Although Key Allegro was hurt pretty bad and our houses did have some significant damage, it is all rebuildable," Kappmeyer said. "That being said, the folks in Rockport are really the ones who are hurting."

While he was in Rockport Friday Kappmeyer took pictures and videos of his experience with Hurricane Harvey and his account of the destruction. He captured stricken areas, leveled homes and businesses, dead animals and many other heart-breaking scenes. 

According to Kappmeyer, all monies raised through the Go Fund Me page will go toward funding the effort to help Rockport.

"Any extra money will be given to needy families of our choosing in the Rockport area," Kappmeyer said. “Several people have asked how they can help, so we started this Go Fund Me page to help with the needed resources to fund this project."

Kerry Morgan is the point of contact for aid/donations from Gonzales and can be reached at 830-857-3919.