Family steps up to help at Hometown Heroes shelter
Photos and Story By : Valerie Wells The Daily News
League City councilman Greg Gripon stacks Salvation Army kits at the shelter at Hometown Heroes Park in
League City on Saturday , September 2 , 2017
Councilman Greg Gripon seized the reins of Hometown Heroes Park the morning of Aug . 27 as League City residents fled rising water from the deluge of Hurricane Harvey .
A fellow graduate of the city ’ s Citizen Police Academy had called him that chaotic morning to say the city was about to open the facility at the park as a shelter for evacuees .
“ I jumped in my vehicle and zoomed down ,” Gripon said .
His home didn ’ t flood , but about 6,000 League City houses did take water in during the historical rainfall that overwhelmed the creeks and the people who lived near them . As many as 500 people sought refuge at Hometown Heroes Park , although the number was down to 200 by Saturday .
Nine Federal Emergency Management Administration representatives visited the shelter Sunday to work with the remaining evacuees to help them get housing vouchers or some other place to stay that wasn ’ t a temporary shelter .
“ I expect all of them to be gone by Friday ,” Gripon said .
Greg Gripon and his son Justin Gripon walked in the facility right after the doors opened Aug . 27 .
“ This family took on Hometown Heroes Park ,” Mayor Pat Hallisey said . “ It ’ s the best-run shelter anywhere in Galveston County or in the Houston area .”
The Gripons already knew the place well , especially the kitchen . Every Sunday morning , they and other members of the Lions Club serve breakfast to area senior citizens . This Sunday , the Lions Club had a “ super senior breakfast ,” inviting all the seniors in the area to the free meal along with the remaining shelter residents .
“ It helps to have a big kitchen ,” Justin Gripon said .
Greg ’ s wife , LaTonnia Gripon , organized the front of the building , signing in evacuees , volunteers and donations . His daughter Ashely Gripon helped in the kitchen and also helped to run the desk .
The shelter became a collection point for donations of canned beans , children ’ s clothes , dog food , diapers and cheese crackers . Evacuees brought pets in crates and their lives in suitcases and garbage bags .
“ I want to make this a home for them ,” Greg Gripon said .
Because so many restaurants donated meals during the first few days , no one had to buy food to feed the shelter inhabitants , he said .
The Salvation Army had stepped in by Saturday to provide some of the meals , Justin Gripon said .
A team of nine women sat at a roundtable in the shelter Saturday compiling a spreadsheet listing local hotels that accept FEMA vouchers .
They listed which ones that had available rooms , whether they accepted pets , what the people limit was per room and whether a cash deposit or identification was needed , League City resident Joanna Sasiene said .
“ They just started this project on their own ,” Greg Gripon said .
Justin Gripon has had unexpected cat naps as the stress of the week caught up with him Saturday .
“ I found myself snoring ,” he said .
He sprayed a bleach-based cleaner on the top of a steel cart , wiped it clean then put fresh paper on it .
11 MOMENTUM / September 2017
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