Kenny Chesney Pioneers Fundraising Efforts after Hurricane Irma
‘They’re facing years of clean up’
Country singer Kenny Chesney, famous for songs such as ‘She Thinks My Tractors Sexy’ and ‘Save it For a Rainy Day’ has set up a foundation to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Irma. The ‘Love for Love City Foundation’ will reach out to stricken people in the U.S and British Virgin Islands.
Chesney, who has a home in St Johns, a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida said he was not home during the storm in a recent interview, but did say that he had given the place over to people to use as a shelter during one of the worst storms to hit the region in nearly a century. Around twenty people and their pets made it to the property to ride out the storm.
‘I had 200 mph wind-tested windows throughout my house, and every window in the house just blew out, so these people were really scared,’ Chesney said, ‘They found more shelter in a big closet and were in that closet for a long time, and they made it. Luckily, a lot of people made it.’
“These communities are facing an uphill battle. And they’re facing years of clean-up,” Chesney also added. “So many people are displaced. And, yes, we will rebuild, and we will recover. And the people I know there, and the people I’ve grown to love, they’re really hard workers. And they’ve got great hearts, and it’s hard to rock them even with a hurricane of this size. That’s the thing I’m most proud of is my island family has a lot of heart, we’re going to recover … but it’s going to take a lot of help.”
This has fallen hot on the heels of last month’s Hurricane Harvey. U.S based Country Music Television (CMT) will be airing a telethon to raise much needed funds for the recovery operation here. ‘Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey’ will be aired tomorrow (Tuesday 12th September) and will include a finale by George Strait live from his own Harvey benefit concert at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre.