New York Federation Delivers Aid To Puerto Rico — Brings Back Stranded Firefighter
(JTA) — UJA-Federation of New York delivered a planeload of humanitarian supplies to the JCC in Puerto Rico and returned a stranded retired New York firefighter in time for his son’s wedding.
Firefighters in the city of Yonkers collected the supplies that arrived in Puerto Rico on Sunday morning in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The supplies were packed by the Afya Foundation for distribution by the Puerto Rico JCC to Jews and non-Jews, according to UJA.
UJA leaders including President Jeffrey Schoenfeld, CEO Eric Goldstein and Executive Vice President Mark Medin accompanied the flight and met in Puerto Rico with a Chabad rabbi, Mendel Zarchi, and Jeff Berezdivin, president of the JCC in San Juan.
“We are scraping the bottom, running out of supplies – food, water, medications, diapers,” Zarchi told UJA. “People here need everything. This will benefit the Jewish and broader community – so many are in desperate need right now. We cannot thank you enough. May we all be sealed in the book of life.”
Among the supplies delivered were water and water filtration tablets or bottles; hand sanitizer; baby wipes, formula and diapers; canned and dried food; pet food; garbage bags; over-the-counter medications for pain, stomach ailments and diarrhea for adults and children; feminine hygiene products; insect repellent; first aid kits; batteries; and work gloves.
The plane returned to New York Sunday evening carrying the retired firefighter, Jose Carabello, who had been in Puerto Rico caring for his hospitalized father when the hurricane hit. He served as the best man for his son, who also is a Yonkers firefighter.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO