Laborers Local 110 donates $100,000 to recent hurricane victims

The contribution was split between a fund for Puerto Rico and one for Texas, Florida and other Southeastern areas

By SHERI GASSAWAY

Correspondent

In yet another selfless act of helping neighbors in need, Laborers’ Local 110 has generously donated $100,000 to help with relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and other nearby areas affected by this season’s catastrophic hurricanes.

Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of up to 155 mph. Hurricane Irma hit Florida on Sept. 10, and Hurricane Harvey struck Texas on Aug. 25.

PUERTO RICO WORST HIT

Of the three hurricane-ravaged areas, Puerto Rico, which is home to about 3.4 million U.S citizens, was by far the most adversely impacted. The powerful storm knocked out power to the entire island and caused widespread flooding.

To add insult to injury, U.S. recovery efforts there have been markedly slower compared to those in Florida and Texas. Two weeks after the storm hit Puerto Rico, the majority of the U.S. territory still lacked power and clean water.

As of Oct 27, 70 percent of the island was still without power and many still don’t have access to reliable drinking water, according to a CNN report. Tens of thousands of residents are fleeing to nearby Florida to escape the disastrous situation.

FORTUNATE TO HELP

“We really feel bad for Puerto Rico because it’s being wholly and solely ignored by our administration, and the relief effort there is so much more difficult,” said Don Willey, Laborers’ Local 110 business manager. “We feel fortunate to be able to help.”

Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) set up two recovery effort funds: one for Puerto Rico and another for Texas, Florida and other areas in the Southeast affected by the hurricanes. Laborers’ Local 110 donated $50,000 to each fund.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

In addition to raising money for those affected by the hurricanes, LIUNA members have been volunteering in disaster relief efforts in Texas, Florida and other Southeastern areas since the very beginning.

On Oct. 3, 17 members from LIUNA’s Eastern Region flew to Puerto Rico to assist with rebuilding efforts there. The next day, the laborers teamed up with more than 300 other union members who flew to the island as part of an AFL-CIO-sponsored relief mission.

YOU CAN HELP

If you would like to make a contribution to the LIUNA recovery effort funds, visit liuna.org and type “hurricane relief” in the search bar.