LANCASTER, TEXAS -- The Red Raiders made a 300-mile journey to the tornado-stricken suburb of Lancaster Saturday to donate supplies and help victims recover from last week's devastation.
The football team collected one-and-a-half tractor-trailer loads of bottled water, toothpaste, food and other essentials that were donated by the Lubbock community. Once they got to Lancaster, many of the players said they were stunned when they caught sight of roofless houses and streets full of debris.
But that soon became a sight of the past as the players joined in the efforts of thousands of rebuilding the North Texas neighborhoods, including the 300 houses and 2,000 buildings in the Metroplex that were damaged by the storms.
About 25 members of the team left Lubbock at 6 a.m. Saturday, and other players and coaches including Head Coach Tommy Tuberville met them in Lancaster. The team returned to Lubbock Saturday night.
American Red Cross Government Liaison and Texas Tech Alumnus Stephen Pape thanked the people of Lubbock and the Texas Tech football team for their help.
"Y’all made me proud,” he said. "I got to brag on Texas Tech.”
For more on Tech's support of the tornado victims,
click here.