Through the generosity of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, 40 area families have new queen size mattresses to replace those lost during the flooding. Donating $10,000 to the Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation, Chevron Phillips Chemical designated it for mattresses to help students and their families affected by Harvey have a comfortable place to sleep.

“We are proud to partner with GCCISD on this project. The faster we can get students back to some form of normalcy, the better they will perform in school,” said Heather Betancourth, Community Relations for Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. in Baytown/Pasadena.

Erika Foster, Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation director, organized the pickup and delivery at the Goose Creek Service Center, assisted by Ginger McKay, director of federal programs, and Rafael Cantu, warehouse supervisor. Working with John Howerton from Mattress Firm’s corporate office, Foster arranged for 40 mattresses, box springs and bed frames to be delivered to the Goose Creek Service Center Saturday morning.

“When Erika told me what she wanted to do, I saw that we had over 150 of these mattresses, so we were able to offer a price that would work for 40 mattresses, box springs and frames,” Howerton said. “Mattress Firm is always looking for people who are helping other people, and we’ve donated $1 million worth of products for Harvey relief efforts.”

Mike Salgy, training coordinator at Chevron Phillips, was on hand to greet families and help with loading and delivering the items. Education Foundation members Mike Wilson and Sandra Bell also assisted with the event. David McCaa and Albert Martinez from Baytown GMC Buick delivered several mattresses to families unable to pick them up. Ryan Foster from Envasco provided breakfast for the volunteers and helped with unloading the trucks.

Goose Creek CISD had received $8,990 in monetary donations plus $200 in Wal-Mart gift cards for Harvey relief, so the district donated this to the Education Foundation to help purchase sheet sets, comforters, mattress covers and pillows to go with the mattress sets. Wal-Mart on Garth Road had the bedding ready to be picked up and donated a total of $640 toward the purchase, and Wal-Mart on Hwy. 146 contributed $100.

“This is such a relief,” said Crisalba Castrejon, a Gentry Junior employee whose children attend Crockett Elementary. “We’ve been sleeping on an air mattress. Thanks to Chevron Phillips, the Education Foundation and Mattress Firm for providing this for us.”

Foster was pleased at how smoothly everything went due to the generous donations as well as the time and effort contributed to the project by volunteers.

“Many students will be able to get a good night’s sleep thanks to Chevron Phillips $10,000 donation,” Foster said. “It was great to see the smiling faces of the families as the mattresses were being loaded onto their vehicles. Thanks to Mattress Firm for their amazing customer service, Baytown Wal-Mart for providing the bedding accessories that will keep them warm and Baytown GMC Buick for providing trucks and volunteers to deliver mattresses.”