Hispanic community mounts relief effort

TROY, N. Y. » Gabriel Lozada estimates that as many as 85 percent of the city’s Hispanic community has friends or family in Puerto Rico, so when Hurricane Maria tore across the Caribbean island earlier this week, leaving unprecedented devastation in its wake, the local community was equally devastated.

The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and turned some streets into raging rivers in an onslaught that could plunge the U. S. territory deeper into financial crisis. Officials say it will take months to restore electricity, and with all cellphone towers similarly disabled, Lozada said he and his friends and neighbors have heard little from loved ones there, relying mainly on news coverage.

They’re not waiting to hear from those loved ones before reaching out to help, however, coming together to collect nonperishible food and sundry items that will be shipped to Puerto Rico. BeginningMonday, the public is asked to bring items such as baby wipes and diapers, bug spray and over- the- counter medications to the Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club, 501 4th Ave. Donations will be accepted from 8 a. m. to 2 p. m. and 5: 30 to 8 p. m. through Friday.

Michael Manupella, the club’s executive director, said the group was glad to offer its assistance. He pointed out the club hosted a similar campaign for local residents after a major water main break in January 2016 flooded much of the northern part of Lansingburgh.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Manupella said. “It’s what we do.”

Once the items are collected, Lozada said they will be taken to New York City, where a Bronxbased emergency relief group will take the donations, combine them with those from throughout the tri- state area and ship them to Puerto Rico. Lozada said he has also been in communication with Hispanic community leaders in Albany and Amsterdam to coordinate their efforts.

Though born in the United States, Lozada said he has always maintained a strong connection with his family’s native Puerto Rico.

He said that connection is what moved him to do something like this for the first time in his life.

“Growing up, the heritage was a very important part of my life,” he remembered. “Just seeing the island so devastated, it broke my heart.”

“Just seeing the island so devastated, it broke my heart.” — Gabriel Lozada, resident of Puerto Rico