Shopko/NBC26 Hurricane Harvey Relief Drive donations are heading to Texas

Early Wednesday morning, a truck full of donations for Hurricane Harvey victims left Ashwaubenon for Texas to help those in need.

Thanks to the generosity of people in Northeast Wisconsin, Shopko and NBC26 gathered about $40,000 worth of donations to send to Texas.

Donations included everything from food to clothes to hygiene products.

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The truck left the Shopko at Bay Park Square Mall around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Shopko shrink-wrapped the pallets to make sure all the goods are secured for the nearly 20-hour drive there.

Gerry Socha, who is driving the truck to Texas, told NBC26 that he expects to reach the area by Thursday afternoon. 

He's been driving a truck for 26 years and said he experienced difficult weather in the past, but this is his first time on a relief effort.

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"The city is just wiped out," he said. "I've been caught in a hurricane before. Not good, a lot of sadness."

Shopko and NBC26 would like to thank everyone who donated to make a difference in thousands of people's lives. The generosity of Northeast Wisconsin knows no bounds!