Jennifer Garner to help West Virginia flood victims

CHARLESTON, W.Va., July 13 (UPI) — West Virginia native Jennifer Garner is helping flood victims in her home state with a T-shirt campaign and fundraising event to secure funds for those who lost everything.

The 44-year-old actress and Save the Children, a charity for which she is a trustee and supporter, have launched the Omaze T-shirt campaign to raise money for recovery following the flash floods that left 23 people dead in June and leveled hundreds of houses, People reported.

West Virginia declared a state of emergency in 44 of its 55 counties June 24 following the flash floods. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called it “among the worst in a century for some parts of the state.”

Garner said she first realized how bad the situation was while talking to her mother on the phone one day. “She pulled to the side of the road because she couldn’t see,” Garner said. “She said ‘This rain has been so intense, it just won’t stop.’”

The actress is hosting a fundraiser July 19 at the University of Charleston to raise money for Herbert Hoover High School, badly damaged by the floods.

Tickets for the event are $100 for general admission, $500 including a photo with Garner or $1,000, which includes a photo and a private reception before the event, The Charleston Gazette Mail reported.

“From the moment she heard about the flooding, Jennifer has been working hard to raise money and provide supplies for flood victims,” said State Sen. Corey Palumbo, a childhood friend of Garner’s. “As a strong supporter of education, she was heartbroken to hear about the flooding at Herbert Hoover High School and has been working hard to help.”