Local students volunteer to help Garland tornado victims

A group of students are volunteering to help people get back on their feet after a tornado damaged Garland neighborhoods.

 “Very grateful. It's like finding a rose in the dessert. It's the little things in life,” said Travis Koscheski, tornado victim.

The rose in Travis Koscheski's dessert this Monday morning - warm chicken fajita tacos cooked up outside a Garland rec center. He used to live in an apartment - now too unsafe for residents to return.

“I've done some volunteer work and now I'm thinking, wow, now I'm on the other end of this,” Koscheski said.

Tad Long started the disaster recovery response at Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Dallas three years ago after Hurricane Sandy. The entire school pitched in collecting items and Long, with other faculty, drove them to the Northeast and set up shop with a mobile food unit.

“It's been incredible. When we talked three years ago I was amazed at the support of the community at Good Shepherd,” Long said. They've responded to several disasters since, including flooding in Austin.

For the students, it's not just tacos, it's life lessons.

“These people are like you and me you know. They are ordinary people and then suddenly everything is gone,” said Alena Vo, student volunteer.

Long said they'll cook and serve food all week. When this mission is over, they will prepare for whoever may need a warm meal and a little encouragement from kids after the next disaster.