Luke Grimes is in the giving spirit. Since taking up residence in Montana, the television star turned country singer/songwriter has developed a deep love and appreciation for his home state of Ohio. So when he found out residents of East Palestine were in dire need of fresh water, he stepped up to help in any which way he could.
Teaming up with the Jeff Ruby family, who owns and operates steakhouses under Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, Grimes will now donate tons of water filtration systems to members of the local community of East Palestine so they can drink water safely.
Donating 250 Water Filtration Systems
With Jeff Ruby, on Friday (March 31), Grimes will visit the city to administer 250 water filtration systems from water-based company Hydroviv, transported via TransLoop. In a collaborative effort, Grimes and Jeff Ruby will also present Republican Mayor of East Palestine Trent Conaway with a hefty donation of more than $100,000, according to Cleveland19.com.
It is unclear how much of the monetary donation Grimes has contributed, but the source reports the Jeff Ruby family has pledged $50,000 of the $100,000+ amount.
Some folks of East Palestine have been worrying about their water systems since February 3, when a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed, spewing dangerous fumes in the air and affecting nearby water streams.
Grimes Partnered With The Jeff Ruby Family
In such trying times for residents of East Palestine, Mayor Conaway, wanted to share his gratitude for Grimes and the Jeff Ruby family for showing their generous hearts and bringing relief to those affected in the aftermath of the toxic train derailment.
“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation from Luke Grimes and the Jeff Ruby Family. Their support will help us move forward toward our vision of a thriving and resilient community,” he said. “While our water is already safe to drink, the generous donation of water filtration systems will provide an extra layer of protection and peace of mind for our residents while further enhancing the quality of our water supply. We are grateful for everyone’s commitment to ensuring our community’s health and safety.”
Britney Ruby Miller, CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, added, “Luke, an Ohio native was eager to partner for immediate impact. We are honored he chose us for the mission.”
“Once I saw the news of the train derailment in East Palestine, I knew I had to do something to help the residents get back on their feet,” Grimes, who grew up in Dayton, addressed. “With this visit and the dedicated fundraising, we hope we are able to continue to shine a light on this devastating incident and inspire others to step up and help too.”
As previously shared, Grimes’ love for Ohio runs deep. And, he recently proved that with the release of his debut single, “Oh Ohio.” The semi-breakup song, which he penned with Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall, showcases Grimes having a sense of fondness and pride for his roots, despite being able to find a home elsewhere.
“I left Ohio over twenty years ago to chase a dream. It was a big moment for me when I realized that Ohio wasn’t my home anymore; I’m sure many people who have moved away can relate. It felt like home for a very long time, but over the years, I could feel the drift,” Grimes previously said of the song in a press release. “‘Oh Ohio’ is less of a song about leaving home and more about losing it. It’s a breakup song but with a place. Knowing your time together is over, but you are a part of each other forever.”
Proceeds From “Oh Ohio” Will Also support relief efforts
Along with his joint effort with the Jeff Ruby Family, Grimes, who is best known for playing the role of Kayce Dutton on Paramount Network’s popular drama series Yellowstone, is donating proceeds from his “Oh Ohio” track to relief efforts of East Palestine residents.
Additionally, he says T-shirts will be made available on his official website soon, with 100% of the proceeds going toward those in need in East Palestine.
“If you feel like helping some good people out, there will be a t-shirt available in the coming days on the website with 100% of the proceeds going to help the families in East Palestine,” he writes on Instagram. “Much love and more soon.”
While he prepares for a potential tour in the near future, fans can see Grimes performing at several festivals throughout the United States this summer/fall, including Stagecoach, Under The Big Sky Festival, Windy City Smokeout, Fairwell Festival, Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and the Auburn Rodeo.
