CANADIAN, Texas — Canadian High School in Canadian, Texas has been closed since Tuesday because of the wildfires. On Friday, the school welcomed people back and helped out one another in a big way.
"People in the Panhandle are very good about helping other people in need," said Ron Nistler, an Amarillo citizen holding a burger feed.
People in Canadian, Texas are in dire need.
After the Smokehouse Creek wildfires ripped through town, uprooting the community, citizens are looking for a meal and basic necessities to somehow get back on their feet.
Nistler drove several miles to hold a burger feed, all to lend a helping hand.
"I started to think about the day I heard about the fire and I thought, 'well, what can I do to help up there' and you can say monetary type stuff but you know, people are hungry," said Nistler.
Many citizens in Canadian, Texas showed up to Canadian High School to get plates of food.
Despite the magnitude of the fires, the community is leaning on each other to rise up in the face of devastation.
"Everybody goes through hard times. And man, you know, we think it is going to be hard days until we lose everything," Nistler said. "Man, you got nothing left. Sometimes I have hard days like 'this day sucks' but you know, overall, shoot, it is nothing like up here (in the Texas Panhandle). You lost everything. I mean, your memories, your houses, their cattle, their livelihood."
The Canadian community has each other, a bond stronger than any natural disaster.
"I'm just proud of the people of the Panhandle," Nistler said. "Panhandle spirit, that's what they call it."
People in Midland and Odessa and all over the Permian Basin want to donate resources to Canadian, Texas and across the Panhandle.
If people are looking to donate, click here.