FRIDAY FLYOVER: Alief Taylor students show school spirit and helping hands post Harvey

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Nearly 1,000 students and staff at Alief ISD were directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and despite the hardships, some of them volunteered when the district opened up a shelter to help others in the community who were flooded out of their homes.

"People being rescued by boats, I've just never seen that before," said Alief Taylor High School teacher Laura Omoruyi.

After seeing the need on TV, Omoruyi said she signed up to volunteer when the district opened up a shelter at the school. Within hours of a volunteer and donation call, the community really showed its support.

"I wanted to help instead of being at home and making myself suffer, when I can be helping the community," said student Miguel Turruco.

The school welcomed nearly 100 evacuees and took in tons of supplies.

"It meant a lot to them. Anytime they saw one of us they said thank you because some of them lost everything," said Omoruyi.

The experience really made an impression on the young kids who stepped up to help.

"It was a single mother with four kids. She came in crying. As soon as we asked her what size clothing she needed, she started crying. We brought her to the cafeteria. Her kids were hungry," said Turruco.

The district is now selling "Alief Strong" t-shirts to help those teachers and staff members who lost cars and properties in the flood. The shirts are being sold for $15. You can buy one by visiting the Alief ISD Website.

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