Puerto Rico Getting Help from Detroiters
Group plans to focus on 50 families with ties to Detroit
Families living in Puerto Rico’s aftermath of Hurricane Maria are getting support from a new locally-based organization. “Detroit-for-Puerto Rico” plans to help 50 families over the course of the next six months. Anita Martinez works for the United Way of Southeast Michigan and has relatives in Puerto Rico. She says it’s not enough to listen to news reports and hope that the U-S government helps its citizens of the territory.
“They have to travel two or three towns over in order to get cell service and they’ve waited in line for hours for ice. The situation there is very, very dire. Not all of them have access to the banking system, so it’s essentially a cash economy right now. Getting them access to monetary funds, and water and food is a high priority for us”
Detroit-for-Puerto Rico is holding a non-perishable donation drive at several Metro Detroit locations Saturday. Martinez says any money or other donations will be given directly to the 50 families, all of whom have ties to Detroit.
Below is the information on October 14th donation drive:
Detroit – Cesar Chavez Academy High School 1761 Waterman Street Detroit, MI 48209 Time: 2pm -7pm
Royal Oak – 1327 Alicia Court Royal Oak, MI 48073 Time: Noon – 4 pm
Southgate – Trentwood Farms 11055 Allen Rd. Southgate, MI 48195 Time: Noon – 5 pm
