NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) -- Five months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico many on the island are still struggling.
Marilyn Rivera from Newport News organized a supply drive to help those in need on the island. She struggled to hold back the tears as she thought about her beloved homeland.
“Even though we are far away, we are still Puerto Ricans. We are always going to be here for you [Puerto Rico] it doesn’t matter if the ocean is in the middle or how many miles we are apart. We are always here and we always will be,” said Rivera.
Last September when Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the island she was devastated. Millions of people were left without electricity, running water and the ability to travel on the roads.
Five months later some are still struggling to bounce back.
Rivera organized a supply drive to collect items to send to those in need on the island. She collected items in her Howard Hannah Real Estate Office in Newport News. Immediately she received an outpouring of support and supplies from people in the community.
“It’s been wonderful and overwhelming seeing how much love we have received," she said. "We were not expecting the product was going to be this big."
Wednesday morning Rivera and a handful of her colleagues packed a truck with the supplies to be shipped off. She said she was grateful for the high schools, hospitals and others that exceeded her expectations to help those in Puerto Rico.
“This has been the best way for me to say thank you and I say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everybody that has helped to make this happen. I think that this proves that there are a lot of good hearts out there that are willing to help no matter what,” said Rivera.