Texas Hill Country jewelry store to donate charm sale proceeds in wake of floods
James Avery Artisan Jewelry said in a July 7 Facebook post that all proceeds from the sales of the "Deep in the Heart of Texas" charm through Aug. 4 would go to relief efforts in and around Hill Country. The company added that it is pledging $1 million for "food, shelter, mental health care, and other critical needs."
"We're humbled by the support you've shown our friends and family in the Texas Hill Country and surrounding areas," the company said in a July 8 update. "The Deep in the Heart of Texas Charm sold out faster than we could have imagined."
The Kerrville-based company said in the update that it reopened its facilities and that it is accepting backorders for the charm. It may take six weeks or longer to fulfill orders, the company said.
USA TODAY reached out to the company for further comment Tuesday night and did not receive an immediate response.
Texas flood recovery: Here's how to help those affected by the devastating Texas floods
More than 160 still missing in aftermath of Texas floods
The death toll rose to at least 109, including at least 27 children and counselors from the beloved Camp Mystic, a storied Christian girls camp in Kerr County, where flooding hit the hardest beginning July 4.
At least 30 children were among those killed in the county, Sheriff Larry Leitha said in an update the morning of July 8.
As first responders and volunteers scour the region for any sign of life, rescuing people clinging to trees using helicopters, the death toll has steadily risen. Parents nationwide looked on with anxiety and horror as the toll at Camp Mystic became clearer. Photos of the aftermath show children's bunks caked in mud, belongings strewn about and a building with an entire wall missing.
In an afternoon news conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed the fatalities and said 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County alone.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY
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