After flooding Oct. 30 and 31 destroyed homes and displaced families throughout Central Texas, Pastor Matt Behrens and his congregation decided to pitch in.

Behrens’ Buda-based church, the Well, has partnered with six other congregations in Hays and Travis counties to raise money for families affected by the floods.

“We’re doing this because these are our neighbors, we care about our community, and we believe other people care as well; but they’re not sure what to do,” Behrens said.

The group is selling shirts and silicon wristbands to raise money for those affected. Up to 50 percent of the profits will be given to the Austin Disaster Relief Network, a collection of more than 150 churches throughout Central Texas. At least 50 percent will be given to directly aid those recovering from the floods.

Behrens said after the most recent flood, his church began helping a Hays County resident who had been affected by floods two years earlier, when heavy rains fell over Onion Creek and caused extensive damage to homes.

Behrens said he wanted his congregation of about 60 people to know how they could help, but he figured they would need more people on board to help in the recovery efforts.

Behrens said ADRN’s initial estimates show there were about 6,000 Hays County homes damaged by the Oct. 30 and 31 floods.

“We’re going, ‘We want to be generous, and we want to help, and we want to do what’s right for folks, but how much money can we just give away,’” Behrens said. “We’re a really small group.”

Soon thereafter the idea for a wristband campaign was hatched, and word quickly spread to other area churches.

Behrens said the group is adding new partners each day, and they plan to continue raising money for flood relief through Christmas. So far they have raised more than $1,000 he said.

Shirts are being sold for $20 each, and all profits from the shirts go directly to flood relief. Wristbands are being sold for $5, and Behrens said $4.50 of each sale goes to flood relief and 50 cents goes to marketing.

Behrens said those looking to volunteer should contact ADRN directly.

For more information visit www.floodhayswithhope.com.