Following devastating severe storms and tornadoes that battered Northwest Indiana, thousands of residents in Gary were left in the dark for nearly two weeks. The catastrophic weather caused widespread property damage and massive power outages, stripping families of essential household supplies and leaving them without electricity for over 12 days.
Seeing the lack of national media coverage, popular influencer and philanthropist Keith Lee decided to step up and head straight to Indiana to provide hands-on help.
On Monday, August 24, Lee partnered with The Salvation Army, the City of Gary, and Ace Hardware to host a massive community relief event at the Roosevelt Pavilion aimed at providing immediate, tangible support to the struggling city.
@keith_lee125 Keith Speaks 💕 Gary Indiana , thank you for welcoming us with open arms 💕 #foodcritic @Salvation Army USA @Tyrese Haliburton @acehardware ♬ original sound – Keith Lee
Rather than simply raising awareness online, Lee wanted to be on the ground serving alongside local volunteers and organizations. The response from the community was staggering. With only two days’ notice, Lee shared that an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people showed up to receive much-needed aid.
The collaborative event focused on distributing flood recovery clean-up kits, which included liquid disinfectants, laundry and dish detergent, gloves, sponges, and mops to help residents begin the difficult rebuilding process. Lee committed $15,000 toward purchasing additional supplies for the event. Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton also stepped in, matching Lee’s $15,000 donation, bringing their combined contribution to $30,000.
Beyond the clean-up kits, the massive giveaway felt like a true community gathering, complete with local food trucks and music from DJ K Ceasar. For those who were unable to wait in the long lines or drive themselves to the distribution site, Lee personally visited a local senior citizen complex to deliver hot meals directly to the residents.
In a video posted to his social media, Lee was visibly moved by the turnout and resilience of the community. “Speechless, I’m at a loss for words, I’m not gonna lie,” he shared, expressing his disbelief that the ongoing crisis in Gary hadn’t become a massive national news story. He emphasized his deep commitment to the area, noting that Gary is a majority-Black city. “As long as I got lungs and I got air in them, I’m gonna do everything I possibly can to make sure any community that look like mine will not be under-reserved and under-publicized,” Lee stated, assuring the residents that they are not forgotten.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services teams have been actively serving the affected areas since the storms first hit, providing disaster social services, food distribution, and emotional care. They will remain in the impacted communities for months to come to offer continued financial and social assistance.
