With Thanksgiving around the corner, residents and officials of Union City reflected on their own blessings and decided to give to those in need. Mayor Brian Stack and the Commissioners of Union City hosted a food and clothing drive to benefit those victims in the Dominican Republic that suffered as a result of Hurricane Noel.
The food drive collected items such as clothing, sneakers, food, and medicine for the victims.
Mayor Stack thanked residents of Union City and all those involved in contributing to such a sad catastrophe.
Two 40-foot trucks showed up last Friday to collect the items donated by residents and business owners alike.
Local residents Maria Valdez and Diana Baz donated food, water and medicine.”It shouldn’t be a one time thing,” said Valdez, “I wish they [the trucks] could come back so we could donate more.”
In addition to the residents that donated, Celia Cruz Park Committee members Justin Mercado, Emilio del Valle Eugene Vasquez and Rudy Rivero arrived with privately funded supplies worth $1500 dispersed throughout three SUV’s.
The park committee was also in charge of sourcing out sponsors and contributors.
The owner of La Churreria, Roberto Moreiro, donated money to purchase supplies for survivors of the hurricane.
Mi Bandera restaurant and supermarket also made a contribution consisting of two pallets (1000 bottles) of Poland Spring water.
The two trucks left last Saturday from Port Newark and the goods were scheduled to arrive in five days time.
The donations received will then be given to various religious institutions where they will be distributed accordingly.
Commissioner Lucio Fernandez later added that within the week, the city hopes to plan another food-drive.
Hurricane Noel in the Dominican Republic
Flooding and mudslides made Hurricane Noel one of the worst storms to hit the island of Hispaniola.
What started as a hurricane off of the northern coast of eastern Cuba, turned into a tropical storm heading towards Hispaniola.
The tropical storm caused the most damage in Hispaniola, specifically in the Dominican Republic where five days of rainfall, brutal floodings and over 21 inches of rainfall caused the most damage, according to reports.
Noel left 84 dead, 12,000 homes damaged and 62,000 civilians homeless.
For more information on donations and contributions, locals can call the Mayor’s Office at (201) 348-5754.
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