Governor Perry made a trip to West to help raise money for long term recovery.
It was called West Disaster Recovery Benefit and residents joined Perry at the Knights of Columbus Hall Saturday afternoon. They were treated to an authentic Czech dinner and dance. Nearly 500 plates of the culture's food were served at $26 each. All money raised would go to help the city of West.
Mayor Tommy Muska says he received multiple checks of thousands of dollars before the event from around the country.
"These people get to enjoy themselves and laugh and that's something that's been very very scarce in the last three months," Muska said. "This is something that people get to have some fun and enjoy themselves and mentally they need this. They need a little break from what they've been going through and so that coupled with the fundraising is a win win."
Governor Rick Perry also took the stage telling West residents the people of Texas will not give up on them. Perry sent an appeal on Tuesday to FEMA asking them to change their decision on making the explosion a major disaster declaration. FEMA had denied that request, which would give millions more in federal funding to the city.
Perry says he wants to keep president Obama accountable for what he said when he visited Waco.
"He stood before the people of West and he said we're going to be there for you. I expect that most people took that to mean that when the disaster declaration went in and that this community did in fact meet the threshold that there would be the dollars forthcoming. We full well expect the president to live up to his word," Perry said.
The state has set aside 10 million dollars for West from the rainy day fund. That will be split between the city and the school district.
Event organizers hoped to raise $25,000 from the event.
