A group of UGA students is collecting items and donations for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
The organization, UGA Relief for Puerto Rico, was formed by a group of Puerto Rican undergraduate and graduate students after Hurricane Maria hit the island almost three weeks ago.
Karla Marquez, a Puerto Rican PhD student in microbiology, said she and others founded the group because of their families.
“Most of us have all of our families there in Puerto Rico,” said Marquez. “We felt powerless. We just felt like there was nothing that we can do. But what we could do was try to collect items, things they were in need of, and send it back home.”
UGA Relief for Puerto Rico is asking for donations of bottled water, non-perishable foods, hygiene items, and first aid supplies, among other things. The group will be collecting items on the UGA Tate Plaza on October 12th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also have donation boxes set up in different locations around UGA campus, including the Graduate School, Coverdell Building and Biological Sciences building until October 14th.
The items will be sent to Puerto Rico via cargo ship or plane, and the group is also collecting donations for shipment costs. To donate to UGA Relief for Puerto Rico or for more information, visit their website here.