Sacramento Veteran And Friend Heading To Houston To Help After Harvey

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — A local Army veteran dedicated to serving his people is making the trek to Houston, Texas, to help in any way he can.

Matias Abeyta has been collecting donations around Sacramento County all week to help bring relief to people who have been stranded by Hurricane Harvey.

"We've got a camping stove, an air compressor, jack stands, tools, gas cans," said Abeyta. "We have 16 flats of water," Abeyta pointed out.

Who could forget about the beloved animals? Abeyta also purchased about 100 pounds of cat and dog food.

"The greatest therapy for me is to put myself out there to help people out," he added.

Abeyta served in the U.S. Army from 1998-2001. He says helping the American people runs in his blood.

"We plan to be out there from 7 to 10 days, we have a two-man crew. We plan to work non-stop," Abeyta said.

He and a friend are driving to Houston Saturday morning, after spending the last four days raising funds to buy a fishing boat.

The owner of a local raft shop in Rancho Cordova also extended a helping hand to this veteran on a mission. He donated a 12-man raft.

"We were more than happy to contribute We also sent him with gas money, and hoping he can do some help out there," said Kent Hansen, manager of American River Raft Rentals.

He's got all the essentials, now Abeyta just has to pack them up before he hits the road.

A 30-hour drive Abeyta says will be worth all his time if it means he gets to bring a ray of hope to mend a torn community.

"Once you serve it's something that never stops," Abeyta said.