Langley residents honored for sending aid to hurricane survivors

September 20, 2017 6:00 am
Evan Thompson / The Record — Three Langley residents were honored on Monday night for their contributions to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey. From left to right: Lilly van Gerbig, Barry van Gerbig, Tim Leonard and Mayor Tim Callison.
Evan Thompson / The Record — Three Langley residents were honored on Monday night for their contributions to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey. From left to right: Lilly van Gerbig, Barry van Gerbig, Tim Leonard and Mayor Tim Callison.

Three Langley residents who sent aid to those affected by Hurricane Harvey were recognized formally by Langley City Hall on Monday night.

Barry and Lilly van Gerbig of Fair Trade Outfitters and Tim Leonard, owner of The Machine Shop, were awarded Mayor’s Excellence Pin awards at the Langley City Council’s meeting on Sept. 18.

Mayor Tim Callison recognized the Gerbigs for raising money for a Houston family which lost its home in the wake of the hurricane. The Gerbigs also donated 10 percent of their clothing store’s sales over Labor Day Weekend to the Katy Community Fellowship Church’s fund, which went toward efforts to salvage home materials, such as carpeting and other belongings, as well as helping needy kids find safe housing. In all, the Gerbigs have raised $5,000. They were aided by other Langley residents who donated money.

“I know a lot of people in this town have a lot of compassion and interest in helping people, but you guys were really out front,” Callison said at the meeting.

Leonard held a fundraising benefit event on Saturday, Sept. 9. All of the proceeds from the pinball tournament, concert jigsaw puzzle competition and drive-in movie theater went GlobalGiving and RedRover, two charities which are providing relief to survivors and animals. Callison said the event “was completely in character with the City of Langley.”

Leonard raised $625.