DIMMIT COUNTY, Texas — Across the state, many families were left without power and water, but for one rural border community that has a large population of elderly people, the need for help was urgent.
That’s when one man and his team answered the call.
Always on the move, moving from one house to another, Robbie Fox is focused on the job.
“There was a tremendous amount of need in the community,” said Fox.
For this Dimmit County native, it’s not actually a job at all.
“It was a call for help,” said Fox. “The one thing I love about our county, and always has been is that we may have our inner turmoil, but at the end of the day, we still have each other’s backs, and get the job done.”
And that’s just what Fox a team of community members set out to do.
The winter storm knocked out power for most of the town of Asherton.
Fox said many of the elderly people were waiting out the storm in a shelter, but when it was time to go back home, they were still without utilities.
One of those places was the home of Alfredo and Lidia Miranda.
“It was a bad experience, I don’t want anybody to have to go through that,” said Alfredo.
The couple, married 57 years, returned home to broken pipes.
“All the water was running under it, all my pipes under the house, they busted out,” said Alfredo.
And that’s when a man they didn’t even know came to their rescue.
“He’s a good man,” said Alfredo. “He saved my life.”
From fixing broken pipes to navigating tight spaces, the team restored close to 40 homes.
“Sunday night I left Asherton about 8 o’clock, and a family of a single mom and four kids called us, and said they hadn’t had water in six days, so we stayed there and got that done,” said Fox. “We had dinner around midnight.”
Asherton resident Marina Miranda said she is grateful for Fox and the team of volunteers.
Miranda broke her hip before the storm, and was released this week from rehab, but couldn’t return home because she had a broken water heater and pipes.
Fox helped repair the leaks, and an anonymous person donated a new water heater.
“I hope they’re able to help those other families that need help,” said Miranda.
Alfredo and Lidia shared their words of gratitude with Fox on Wednesday.
“I want to thank you for that, maybe some day I can repay that,” Alfredo said to Fox.
And for Fox who lost his father just weeks ago, said it’s a way to give back.
“That’s what I do, I love to help people,” said Fox.
Fox said they are still getting calls from people seeking the team’s help.
If you’d like to help out the people in Dimmit County, the team has set up a Facebook group to accept donations.
Visit the Soul Lion Food Ministries on Facebook for more information.