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Atlee High senior designs custom t-shirts to help Hurricane Harvey victims

Posted at 8:42 PM, Nov 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-27 10:33:06-05

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. – An Atlee High School senior is on a mission to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

Lexi O'Neill said the proceeds from her $27 Houston Strong t-shirt will benefit the Houston Food Bank.

The t-shirt, which is available in vintage black, ice blue and heather white, features a basic design the 18-year-old said "draws together those of us from different paths of life to stand together with victims of Hurricane Harvey."

In addition, O'Neill said she plans to personally match the proceeds from each sale.

She tabulated the sale of one shirt would provide about 30 meals to the food pantry.

“I'm on a mission from now until Dec. 3 to feed as many Texans as I can,” O’Neill wrote.

O’Neill brings her sketchbook with her wherever she goes thanks to a professor's advice.

Accordingly, she had that sketchbook with her when she came up with the design in a Kroger parking lot a few days before school started.

"I had watched the news and heard stories from my friend who used to live in Texas about her friends being rescued and the tragedy that struck her hometown," O’Neill wrote. "I started sketching and I came up with something while taking my neighbor grocery shopping."

When she got home, O’Neill transferred her sketch to her computer and got to work.

“My motto has always been that I wanted to create impactful design that ignited change… so I was just sketching around some ideas.”

The 18-year-old triplet said her family and teachers have been inspired to her in her projects.

“We have an amazing graphics program with a super awesome teacher I have been lucky to have for the past four years,” she said.

O’Neill received a presidential scholarship to study at New York City's School of Visual Arts for three weeks over the summer.

As of Saturday night, two t-shirts had been sold and there were eight days left to place an order.

Click here for more information about how to buy a shirt.

Lexi O'Neill's "Houston Strong" t-shirt.

Lexi O'Neill's "Houston Strong" t-shirt.

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