Local businesses travel to Texas to deliver almost 600 cases of water

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21)- A group of businesses got together for a weekend trip to Dallas to deliver water to those in need.

Some of the businesses include Big Momma's Kitchen and 3M Automotive. Roderick Parker who owns James Parker and Sons Transit, organized the trip.

"It's just like in my DNA now that anytime I can be of help especially in situations where you have numerous people who are struggling due to conditions that they don't have any control over," Parker said.

He and others made the more than 15-hour trip to deliver almost 600 bottles of water to those in need. This, after a winter storm left millions in the state without power and drinkable water.

"I hate the idea of people suffering, I can't stand the idea that people have to do without basic necessities and so once again I just knew that we had to do something to help," Parker said.

He made some calls to friends and they left for Dallas late Friday night. They packed a van and truck full of hundreds of cases of water. Parker says he was grateful that the Fort Wayne community was so willing to help him give back.

"People in Fort Wayne trust that I say 'hey this is what we're doing, this is what we need from you' and they're comfortable enough to say 'ok here you go' with no hesitation so it's a great feeling and it's a blessing," Parker said.

Parker met so many people along the way including Susan Stephens, a pastor at Lakewest Community Ministries in Dallas.

"He said do you need some water? And I said yes I need some water and it made me feel so good because when God uses to serve others and God brings somebody to meet a need that you have it just lets you know that people still care," Stephens said.

For Parker, it was worth the journey.

"I just hope that people understand that this was all about trying to help and showing that they are people who have nothing to do with your situation when they know that you're in need," Parker said.