By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

Nearly two dozen Alabama college students traveled to Port Arthur this week with a bus chock-full of supplies to help local residents.

Some of the supplies included diapers, toiletries, clothes, school supplies and water. The students, from Miles College, spent two days in Port Arthur handling out the supplies. They also visited Memorial High School.

On Thursday, the Miles College students were at Bluebonnet Park to hand out the last of the items.

Matisse Mann, the student government president, said Miles College traveled to Port Arthur to show their support for another community following Tropical Storm Harvey. Mann said 22 students made the trip. Several staff members traveled with the students, too.

Mann said students and staff filled the bus to capacity with people and supplies. The students were able to collect enough items to fill the cargo area of the bus. Items also had to be placed on seats inside of the bus.

By Thursday afternoon, the Miles College students had handed out most of their supplies.

The college students also visited the tent encampment at Bob Bowers Civic Center. Shantrell Sinclar, the student government vice president, said the visit to the tent encampment showed the struggles locals face in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Sinclair said the number of people who still needed school supplies was surprising and she added that she was glad Miles College students brought school supplies.

Back in Alabama — where Miles College is located — Sinclair said it seems as if people are talking about Harvey and its impact on the Texas gulf coast as much as they once were.

“It sorta seems like everything — people talk about it right after it happens and that’s it,” she said.