SAN ANTONIO – Amid the devastation in Puerto Rico, people from the island who now live in San Antonio are coming together to help their family and friends.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to visit Puerto Rico next Tuesday, but some San Antonio residents with family there are doing what they can now to get help to the devastated area.
Migdalia Aponte lives in San Antonio with her husband and children, but she said the rest of her family is stuck in the now-devastated U.S. territory.
"We heard from most of them by now," Aponte said. "I still have some family in the center of the island that we haven't heard from yet. We keep praying."
Aponte said she wanted to do something right away to help so through the Association of Puerto Ricans in San Antonio, Aponte has been collecting donations that will go in a truck this Friday, bound for Jacksonville, Florida, and from there those items will be shipped to Puerto Rico.
"We have mosquito repellent, cereals," she said. "We have a lot of nonperishable cans."
Aponte said she plans on making the trip to Puerto Rico to help her family rebuild, but for now, she's hoping the supplies will help.
"It's unprecedented, damages like this," said Aponte. "Even older people that were used to the storms that thought they were prepared, they will tell you never in a lifetime. This has been the worst."
Yvi Serbones' aunt and 90-year-old grandmother are stranded in Puerto Rico and while she said they are OK, she wanted to get them help fast so, she started a collection drive at her work place, the San Antonio River Authority.
The items will go to the Association of Puerto Ricans in San Antonio.
"I can't guarantee that this will get to my family directly, but I hope they help someone in that same situation that is looking for that support," Serbones said.
Serbones said she's thankful to her co-workers and friends for the help.
"These donations, the fact that they (the Association of Puerto Ricans in San Antonio) are saying we found a way to make sure that these (donations) get there, makes me feel a little bit better because I want to see what I can do now," Serbones said. "People are hurting a lot."
People interested in helping can contact the Association of Puerto Ricans in San Antonio at 210-497-5559.
Aponte is also encouraging people to call the American Red Cross at the1-800-842-2200.
There are also a link to donate directly to Puerto Rico.
