PR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

As the island continues to recover from continuous earthquakes, Puerto Ricans across the globe, along with those from the sports industry and here, in Buffalo, N.Y., are voicing their solidarity with the natives impacted by the earthquakes.

How could the Trump administration deny, hold back and limit relief funds to the people impacted by the earthquake disaster? The people of the island of Puerto Rico are American citizens, entitled to the same rights and dignified treatment, as any North American. The proof is for the eyes to see, the destruction, more than obvious … The earthquake tremor rattled the cities, towns and villages, destroyed houses, churches, schools and bridges, no electric for days, weeks, maybe months, for some places and locations in the island.

 Right here in our home base, Buffalo, NY, people like Wilmer Olivencia, Nadia Pizarro, Lucy Candelario and others, reacted immediately, reaching out to who’s who in the Puerto Rican/Latino community, holding several meetings at the Belle Center, and organized everyone under the umbrella “P.R. Earthquake Relief fund”, to solicit the necessary needs for the people of Puerto Rico.

About two or three days later (Saturday, January  18th), a press conference was held, hosted by Lucy Candelario, attended by Mayor Brown, Councilman David Rivera, and other elected officials, the meeting was coordinated by Nadia Pizarro (press officer) and Lucy Candelario (executive director, Belle Center).

Once the word got out, support and donations started coming in. Monetary donations were made by the Puerto Rican & Hispanic Day Parade, presented by Charlie Torres, PRACA, presented by Wilmer Olivencia, and the Veterans Memorial Association, presented by Ventura Colon.  Catholic Charities and M&T Bank reached out and are working with the committee. Nadia Pizarro said a Facebook page was set up, “PR Earthquake Relief Fund”, where you can go for information and how you can help or donate.

It should be noted that this is the same group that came together two years ago to help with the hurricane Maria, raising over $200,000 dollars, plus providing ground assistance to hurricane victims that relocated to western New York.

Please get involved and see how you too can assist Puerto Rico, right here from Buffalo, NY, by working together with the PR Earthquake Relief Fund. For information, contact Lucy A. Candelario, Executive Director, The Belle Center, 104 Maryland Street, Buffalo, NY 14201 – Tel. 716-845-0485, ext. 202 – Email: icandelario@thebellecenter.org.

Checks can be made out to the PR Earthquake Relief Fund, and mailed to the Belle Center, to the attention of Lucy Candelario.

Note:  The PR Earthquake Relief Fund is made up of the following community leaders (list in progress): Lucy Candelario, Wilmer Olivencia, Nadia Pizarro, Casimiro Rodriguez, Tamara Alsace, Gliset Colón, Councilman David Rivera, Maritza Vega, Jose Chegui Rivera, Oswaldo Mestre, Miguel Santos, John Sanabria Sr., Luis Reyes, Felicia Cruz, Hector Pagan, Victoria Perez, Aileen Gonzalez Marti, Yolanda Martinez-Rodriguez, Viviana C-Y, Charles Torres, Eugenio Russi, Ramos, David Caban, Wilda, Nadia Nashir, Alicia Barinas, Taina Rodriguez, Alicia, Beatriz Flores, Christian Parra, Geo Hernandez, Victoria Perez, Solomon Joseph, Ventura Colon, and Jose C. Pizarro.