In the immediate hours following the devastating tornados that ravaged North Texas on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Dallas-native Wade Smith sent a call-to-action to his Foundation’s Directors and supporters. Smith could not pass up the opportunity to assemble his staff to offer donations and support for Lancaster, Texas, a southern Dallas community that was hit hard on Tuesday.  

The group of 23 men and women converged on the city of Lancaster early Saturday morning with cars and trucks overflowing with clothing and toiletry donations for affected victims. Through an assignment from the City of Lancaster’s Disaster Relief Headquarters, The Wade Smith Foundation walked from street-to-street of a severely hit residential neighborhood providing assistance with debris clean up.

“My family and I got on the road from Houston with our vehicles full of items we’d brought and that our Houston friends gave us to bring to Dallas.  There’s no way I could not do something when I have so much love for my hometown and so many loved one’s in this city.  We were all tremendously humbled by the experience and we’re looking at other ways to do more for these victims,” shared Smith. 

One such tornado victim, Gwen Edwards, recalled the traumatizing experience of being home with healthcare providers when the storm hit.  A recent stroke survivor, she was home with a nurse and therapist when the sirens sounded.  She credits her caregivers with saving her life by getting her to a bathroom, seconds before the tornado ripped the entire roof off of her home and leveled several outside walls.  

“I thank you for what you’ve done here and I appreciate your group and your time. God is good,” Edwards shares.  She is among many in Lancaster struggling to salvage whatever she can from her family’s home.  Smith’s Foundation has pledged to stay in touch with her to offer additional support to her family in the coming weeks.

Wade Smith is a 10-year NFL veteran and offensive lineman for the Houston Texans with roots in the North Dallas area.  A graduate of Lake Highlands High School, Smith recently founded The Wade Smith Foundation whose mission and vision hinge on supporting “children, charity and community”. For more information about The Wade Smith Foundation and it’s upcoming Lake Highlands Legends Charity Weekend in Dallas, TX April 26-28, 2012, visit wadesmithfoundation.org.