An Orlando volunteer organization originally formed to help people after Hurricane Irma is now collecting relief supplies for Hurricane Maria victims.
So far, the group has donated 2.2 million pounds of supplies, most of which came locally from Orlando residents, CASA general coordinator Jimmy Torres said.
“My wife and my kids live in Puerto Rico, and my mothers and my brothers, so for us, this is like an obligation, you know? To take care of our family,” Torres said.
Some of the relief supplies were also gathered by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, packed into trailers in Georgia and brought to Orlando, Torres said.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the crisis in Puerto Rico is personal for many people living in Central Florida.
“We have many families from Puerto Rico here in Central Florida and, so, our hearts have certainly gone out to those families,” he said.
Torres said CASA volunteers will continue to collect and distribute relief supplies as long as the need is there.
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