Thousands of people in Puerto Rico are still without essential items following Hurricane Maria. Fire stations across the borough are aiming to remedy that. NY1’s Lindsay Tuchman filed the following report.
Carlos Ortiz was born in Puerto Rico, and many of his relatives still live there.
The Staten Island man said he is so thankful New Yorkers are pitching in to help those back in Puerto Rico dealing with the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria..
"They need the water the food and the home too,” he said. “One of their homes got messed up so they gotta do a lot of stuff out there."
18 firehouses and EMS stations, including three on Staten Island, are collecting critically-needed items such as diapers, baby food, batteries, first aid supplies and feminine hygiene products.
Donations of other items, including clothes and certain canned goods are being rejected.
"Most people want to give somehow, and a lot of times they don't know, writing a check and sending it, they're not sure where it's going,” said Battalion Chief Matt Moog. “This is sort of personal, they're picking something out, they're buying it, they're dropping it off at the firehouse."
Jimmy Graham donated baby food.
"I have neighbors that have family down there, I mean zero communication, all the trees are missing all the vegetation as far as I've heard,” he said.
According to the city's office of emergency management, as of Sunday night, 78 large boxes had been picked up.
The items will be shipped within the next few days via military or commercial flights as well as cargo boats.
Local firehouses often help out during natural disasters, but this is the first citywide emergency relief effort."
"I think it's good, I think they're doing great,” Ortiz said. “They're helping out, anything helps."
The city said donations will be accepted seven days a week, until there's no longer a need.
Judging by the conditions in Puerto Rico, that cutoff will not be happening any time soon.