David Robertson helps Illinois families ravaged by tornado

(WIFR) On the field, David Robertson’s sole focus is providing relief and saving games for the Chicago White Sox. Once the stadium lights go though out and Robertson takes off his uniform, his focus shifts to his every day responsibilities and his interests that go well beyond baseball.

Chief among those would be his non-profit organization called High Socks for Hope, which he and his wife co-founded in 2011. The organization provides furnishings for families that lose everything in natural disasters, which is the unfortunate reality many Illinois families are facing after a tornado ripped through several communities back in April.

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On his Thursday off day, Robertson visited the impacted communities of Rochelle, Fairdale, and Esmond, IL, which are all located about 80 miles west of Chicago. Robertson was there to check on the progress of the rebuilding effort and also provide a lift in spirits where needed.

“It’s a beautiful community. I get to meet these people and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s nice to come out here. It’s just nice to see everyone happy and know that everything is moving forward,” said Robertson.

According to WIFR 23 in Rockford, High Socks for Hope has furnished eight homes in Fairdale and plans to provide furniture for another eight homes once they’ve been completely rebuilt, so the organization is going it part as well to help lift spirits.

“We’re trying to get them back to their everyday life and get them the things that they need to get started again,” says Robertson. “It’s tough when a tornado comes through, people don’t realize you lose everything. You might have insurance and be covered for some things. It’s the items that you lose that you can’t replace, that’s what really hurts.”

David & Erin Robertson created High Socks For Hope after a tornado devastated his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2011.

Over the years, the organization has helped provide relief for residents in New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and helped 25 homes in Shawnee, OK and Granbury, TX following a tornado that struck in May of 2013.

It’s a cause that’s obviously close to Robertson’s heart, and it’s resulting in the most important relief work he’ll do in his life.

You can read more about High Sock For Hope by clicking here.

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