People across the Lone Star State are trying to find ways to help Central Texas and the Hill Country after flash flooding devastated the area over the Fourth of July weekend. Officials said more than 80 people are dead and more than 20 missing, including girls from a summer camp.
Kerr County saw the most amount of deaths so far, with 68 people deceased. 40 are adults, 28 are children. According to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, 10 Camp Mystic girls are unaccounted for, along with one counselor.
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“It’s just heartbreaking. I mean, as a mother, it’s heartbreaking,” said Lisa Camp, whose children recently returned from summer camps along the Guadalupe River. “We just feel very helpless and are hurting and praying for all those involved.”
Camp said her 9-year-old daughter, Corrigan, returned from Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp, two weeks ago.
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“When you first come, you feel so happy and feel so comfortable and all the sports there, and it’s really fun,” reflected Corrigan who attended the camp for the first time.
Her twin brother, Cannon, also came back from Camp La Junta, the all-boys camp.
Both campsites saw catastrophic damage. All campers from La Junta were accounted for, but unfortunately that’s was not the same story for Camp Mystic.
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“I felt really sad,” said Corrigan about the tragedy.
“Very grateful that my daughter is home, completely shattered for all those affected. I would do anything to help any of those families. I’m just sick because camp is a happy and special place,” expressed Camp.
She said after prayer, her husband and two kids talked about how they could help those in need.
“I think my son originally said, ‘I just wish I could help’ and I feel like we all, anyone who’s not directly affected just wants to help,” said Camp.
The kids got to work Saturday night to set up a lemonade stand for Sunday in their Tanglewood neighborhood.
“One says we love Camp Mystic,” said Cannon about the signs they made.
“The other one says all proceeds go to Camp Mystic,” said Corrigan.
They sold lemonade and cookies for a dollar each, but generous customers, being neighbors and strangers, gave them much more. Within a few hours, they raised more than $2,200. By the end of the evening, they had more than $5,000. Some people skipped the treats and just donated money instead.
“It made me feel good because we’re donating the money to camp,” said Cannon.
“I feel like a lot of people care for Camp Mystic and how damaged it is,” said Corrigan.
The siblings not only raised money through the lemonade stand but also sold something sweet that is symbolic of Camp Mystic.
“They’re ‘Tweety Cookies’ they’re like chocolate oatmeal cookies,” described Corrigan.
It’s named after one of the owners of the camp, Tweety Eastland. The Camp family said they used the same recipe from Camp Mystic.
“On the last day, every year, she makes these cookies and we call them ‘Tweety Cookies’, and whoever wins inspection, so whoever cleans the cabin the best, gets ‘Tweety Cookies,” explained Corrigan.
“Tweety made her feel so special the week she was at camp, she sat with her at lunch one day. Yeah, it felt like a a way to honor them,” said Camp about making the cookies.
Eastland’s husband, Dick, who was an owner and executive director of the camp as well, died while saving campers, according to his family through social media.
“The last thing that my daughter said before bed, after we talked about it, she said, ‘It’s not fair that I didn’t know Dick longer because I learned that he is such an example of God,” described Camp.
As the kids navigate a tragedy that hit close to home, they’re learning how a disaster can bring people together.
“That’s why we’re doing this to make sure everybody is okay and build even stronger,” said Corrigan.
“We’re called to help others and love others, and we can do that by actions,” said Camp.
The family said they hope somebody will match the amount they’ve raised and set up a Venmo through @lisa-camp-4.
Fort Worth twins with ties to Camp Mystic set up lemonade stand to raise money – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
