DALLAS — The winter storm impacted Texans in more ways than we could imagine. After several days of below freezing temperatures, power outages, and icy road conditions, the weather reports drastically changed from severe to normal in what seemed like a “drop of a hat.” 

Texans, however, are still dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the storm. Luckily, two former Texas Longhorns are helping provide relief. 

“I’m a DFW native and I’m not there right now,” said Pacers’ forward Myles Turner. “I don’t know what it feels like to be under that tutelage."

“I’m a Texas boy, born and raised in Irving. Texas is my home and it will always be my home,” said former Texas and NFL safety Michael Huff. “Anything I can do to give back, that’s what I’m going to do."

Two Texas natives, who bleed burnt orange, are helping heal a struggling state that was cut deep by the winter storm. From Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, Huff donated thousands of hot meals to families in need.

“I was thinking how could I help these families? If that was me, how would I want to be helped? Obviously I couldn’t turn the power or water back on,” said Huff. “But many live right around the corner from a restaurant. So maybe I could get them some much needed food.”

Huff fed thousands and used social media to communicate how people can receive hot meals. 

Myles Turner’s relief efforts started in a more unconventional way. After a poor performance against the Chicago Bulls, a Pacers fan decided to throw some shade by Venmo requesting Turner $100.

“Let me put it this way, since I’ve been in the league, I’ve had a lot of people talk their share of crap,” Turner said.

Usually that trash talk comes from the stands or on social media. But this heckler, in particular, decided to go a different route.

“I have never seen anyone have the audacity to talk trash to me through Venmo. A financial app! That was ridiculous to me, but also hilarious,” said Turner.

So, Turner paid the man $0.01, which snowballed into something he never expected.

“People started sending me pennies saying a penny for your thought or here’s my two cents. All those pennies and two cents in a matter of hours added up to $230. Just like that,” Turner said.

After seeing the passionate response on Venmo, Myles matched any donation sent to him. By doing so, he raised a grand total of $76,187.58. 

So both Longhorns did their part to help their state get back up on its feet.