The Tuscaloosa-based High Socks for Hope foundation is preparing for a long-term involvement in the disaster relief and recovery effort in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Director Judy Holland said the first step is the assembly and distribution of kits that will be given to people who encountered water damage and must rid their homes of the inevitable growth of mold. This endeavor is the beginning of what Holland says will be a multi-year, multi-million-dollar effort to help people recover after Hurricane Helene.
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“This kit has everything they need to clean their house and kill the mold. Each box has about $400 worth of product in it,” Holland said. “Right now, I have about 1,500 kits made up for individuals. We are building more at our warehouse in Tennessee.”
High Socks for Hope is the charitable foundation co-founded by Major League Baseball player David Robertson, who played high school ball in Tuscaloosa, and his wife Erin. They began the organization in the wake of the devastating 2011 tornado that swept through Tuscaloosa. With baseball season over for Robertson’s Texas Rangers baseball team, he was in town this week. Holland said he had not been to the new warehouse and came by to work and spent the day helping move mattresses.