Hundreds if not thousands of Hurricane Maria victims have relocated to Western New York from Puerto Rico.
Many left the devastated island after weeks without power, clean water, or food.
It has been more than two months since the storm hit the U.S. Territory and still people are without power. Suwleyka Delgado is a 28-year-old who's living with a friend in Buffalo. Delgado and her grandmother were forced to move to Buffalo.
"We didn't have power. I was with my grandmother and I had to move with her to get some help, because she has some medical issues," Delgado said.
Delgado was at a social services fair held by The 'Hurricane Maria Relief Fund" at the Holy Cross Church on Buffalo's Westside. She was looking for a job. Delgado worked for an airline while living in Puerto Rico. Her hours dried up because airline service dropped to only one flight a day.
She's hoping to find work in Buffalo. Work that will allow her to be an independent woman once again.
Catholic Charities of Buffalo and St. Vincent de Paul have partnered with the new initiative to provide two drop-off locations in the City of Buffalo.
Donations of clothes, winter coats, small household items, bed linens, cleaning supplies and personal care items can be dropped off at Catholic Charities on 1122 Broadway in Buffalo. Times are: weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as on Saturday, December 2, during the same hours. For more information, call: (716) 895-4001.
Furniture can be dropped off at St. Vincent de Paul on 1298 Main Street in Buffalo. Times are: weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call: (716) 882-3360.
Only new and gently used donations will be accepted.
Reps say the new effort will assist more than 400 Hurricane Maria survivors.
