TEMPLE, TX — We’ve seen communities all over Texas band together this week. One of those stories includes Temple ISD and its superintendent.
The district jumped into action to help their students and neighbors as frigid temperatures swept across the area.
With the roads iced over and no power, Temple ISD and its transportation department knew they could help and wasted no time doing so.
”Our bus drivers volunteered to transport elderly and their pets to shelters and warming stations," said Superintendent Dr. Bobby Ott.
But that was just the beginning. The group helped in a variety of ways, from bringing stranded travelers gas to transporting patients to their important medical appointments.
also brought people gas and other essentials while making sure others didn’t miss important medical appointments.
”We would coordinate with the fire chief and police chief and they would go pick them up and transport them to those appointments," said Dr. Ott.
One Temple resident says he would have never been able to make it to his dialysis appointment without Dr. Ott.
”He said he would get right back with me and he was able to arrange for the Temple Fire Department to send Fireman Stewart and Fireman Jurostic over pick up my brother and make sure he got to his appointment," said teacher Allen Roark, brother of Wayne Roark.
Wayne says missing his appointment could have meant the difference between life and death.
”I’m getting a kidney transplant in about 12 days. So, getting the dialysis and keeping it going is very important so I can have the transplant surgery and my body is healthy enough to be able to process that surgery and the anesthesia and stuff," he explained.
Wayne says he even received a surprise call for Dr. Ott the next day.
”You're calling me? I mean, you got to be a busy guy. I can’t believe it. I was blown away. I said, "You're awesome, you’re amazing. I can’t thank you enough,"" he said.
Wayne couldn’t be more grateful to Dr. Ott, the two firefighters that took him to his appointment and the police officer who brought him home.
Temple ISD will also be transporting people back to their homes Saturday.
