Pence: ‘Deeply inspiring’ to see volunteer work in Texas

Vice President Pence remarked Thursday on the “deeply inspiring” volunteer work in Texas as recovery efforts continue after extensive flooding in the Houston area from Tropical Storm Harvey.

“I think Karen and I today were most inspired by the volunteers,” Pence said, referring to his wife, while speaking to reporters in Corpus Christi after spending the day in the Lone Star State.

“To see the outpouring of compassion and concern was deeply inspiring to us. And every American should know, that even in this difficult time, in this disastrous storm, the very best of the people of Texas and the very best of the people of America are shining forth,” he said.

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The vice president earlier in the day aided workers cleaning up debris at a church in Rockport, Texas, where he met with storm victims and volunteers before heading to the town of Victoria to help hand out food, water and other supplies.  

Pence helps clean up debris from downed trees in Rockport. pic.twitter.com/ThKVmQqTM5

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 31, 2017

Pence spoke alongside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and was joined at the news conference by several members of the Trump administration, including the heads of the departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Labor and Homeland Security.

The vice president encouraged people on behalf of President Trump to donate and help out with the recovery efforts in any way they could.

“You can go online, you can donate resources, or you can do like thousands of Americans are already doing and will be doing in the weeks and months ahead, and that is find a way to get here and be the hands and feet and compassion of the American people, to help these families, help these communities rebuild,” he said.

Pence’s remarks followed an announcement by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a Thursday press briefing that Trump would personally donate $1 million to recovery efforts.