BUFFALO, NY - A local group that has been helping to collect donations for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, is on the island, trying to do its best to help people in need.
The president of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York has been in Puerto Rico for two months, to check on family and be involved in several key projects.
Casimiro Rodriguez, the president of the Hispanic Heritage Council, says progress has been too slow on the island. He's been traveling the island getting a look at the damage. Rodriguez says an orphanage had its roof blown off. The Hispanic Heritage Council, along with the Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Fund is working to repair this orphanage and two others and monitor all the supplies WNY has donated to Puerto Rico.
"I know from discussion and also experience, that all the material that was shipped via the National Guard through the cargo planes did make it here and it has been distributed or is being distributed or so everything is being used," Rodriguez said.
The group is also working on getting a water infiltration system built in one community. The Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Fund has raised more than $226,000 in donations, which is going to help pay for these projects and help resettle families in Western New York.
The council says, on Oct. 6, 2017 the first plane load of goods left for Puerto Rico. And its supply drive was the largest in New York State and resulted in the collection of 495 pallets of supplies, over 8,000 gallons of water, over 7 tons of food and 28,000 paper/personal care products.
Hurricane Maria struck the island six months ago. And in just three months, hurricane season begins.
If you'd like to help out hurricane victims, you can donate to Catholic Charities and Ladies of Charity or by heading to the Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief.