DETROIT (WXYZ) — Volunteers are bagging sand at the Alfred Brush Ford Park in Detroit. The city is hoping to have 50,000 bags ready to be placed around homes and seawalls along canals.
Chevatte Jackson and her husband joined in the efforts.
“They need help and we have the time, so why not,” Jackson said.
The 60-year-old retiree lives in East English Village but was concerned for those living in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.
“We saw it on the news yesterday, we decided to come out and volunteer,” she said.
Jackson said she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
“I am shoveling sand in the bags, holding the bags, tying the bags, doing a little bit of it all,” Jackson explained.
She is volunteering even though her basement had some water in it, but says it could’ve been worse.
“It wasn’t even a half inch of water and it was clear water, so we were able to mop it up,” she said.
Those living along the canal are most concerned about flooding. Some say the water is about a foot higher than normal.
Nora Birch also answered the call for help.
“This is in our backyard and we have to help our neighbors out and that’s important,” she said.
Birch said helping strangers in this situation is the right thing to do.
“I would hope that if I was ever in this situation people would help me as well,” Birch said.
