A CHALLENGE TO THE HISPANIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE

“The mission of the Hispanic Women’s League is to improve the quality of life, assist in personal and professional development, and advocate for the concerns of the Hispanic woman.”

Dear Hispanic women’s league:  why not establish a health committee to come to the aid of deserving Latinas in need of medical assistance? We have noticed several of your members become ill and left alone to deal with medical issues…

Latina sisters, especially those that are always giving and involved in community organizations, get very little support when they fall ill with a serious, threatening medical situation. We would love to see the Hispanic Women’s League (HWL) establish a fundraising health committee to assist their sister members with health issues. It’s an idea that should be explored. The Latino human infrastructure in our community already has the monetary system to provide financial donations. — HHC, PRACA, Bell Center, HUB, plus a challenge to individual community leaders to donate on an annual basis, whatever they decide to donate. They can begin with the present situation with several of your members experiencing health issues. It sounds complicated, but it’s a very simple initiative and structure to organize.

The difficult part is the human willingness, commitment, and passion to care. COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD EXPLORE THIS IDEA. THEY COME TOGETHER TO ASSIST EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SO WHY NOT COME TOGETHER TO ASSIST WITH OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS?

Just recently, during the “Grease Pole Festival”, Assemblyman Jon Rivera issued a check of three hundred thousand dollars to the Pucho Social Club for their “good service to the community.”

Just recently, during the “Grease Pole Festival”, Assemblyman Jon Rivera issued a check of three hundred thousand dollars to the Pucho Social Club for their “good service to the community.”

Reach out to these groups and have them help. What are these community groups for?  That is the least HWL can do for our LATINA SISTERS. In situations like this, it’s our turn to come to their assistance.

The Buffalo Latino Village commits to contributing annually —if a health committee is established. We don’t need to beg outside groups to help jumpstart this project. We can do that ourselves. After that, HWL can solicit financial support and contributions from the public and private sectors.

 In the future, if properly planned, HWL can have its own public or private “Latina Mutual Society”, available to any citizen, Latino\a or non-Latino\a, who needs assistance or help, including in cases of disasters, like Hurricane Maria.

If the Puerto Rican Social Club and the Hispanic Heritage Council can get money from their political and corporate friends, it should not be that hard for HWL to entertain this idea. Use your community contacts.

Come on HWL! Take the lead and become the pioneer in making this project a reality.  The community would love you for it… and so will your Latina members. 

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This editorial was inspired by the number of Latina sisters we see on Facebook requesting assistance with their medical or health issues, not able to raise the necessary funds to pay the high cost of medical treatment. 

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