New Aurora group supports Mexico, Puerto Rico after disasters
Ten palettes of disaster relief supplies and one Aurora businesswoman are in Mexico.
Twenty-one palettes of supplies and another Aurora businesswoman are on their way to Puerto Rico.
And a new organizing committee called The United Community of Aurora is just getting started.
The group convened after an earthquake shook the Mexico City area Sept. 19 and Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20. Its members, leaders who have collaborated on nonprofit boards and cultural organizations, began working together to send aid to people in the "devastation and poverty" that fester after a natural disaster, said one of the organizers, Maria Manzo.
"Every time we see the outpouring, the generosity of people around us, it brings joy, it bring chills, it brings tears," said Manzo, who has relatives in Mexico who were not injured or harmed in the earthquake. "We know we're doing it for a good cause."
The group already has hosted two donation drives - one for Mexico and another for Puerto Rico - bringing in water, flashlights, batteries, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, diapers and first aid supplies. Now The United Community of Aurora is hosting a benefit to support both disaster-ravaged regions, a dance night at 7 p.m. Friday at La Sierra de Aurora Banquets at 2121 E. New York St. in Aurora.
The 21-and-older event will feature musical performances by Mariachi Michoacana, Impacto Boricua, Chicago Latin Groove, Amistad Norteña and DJ Tito Latino.
Funds raised at the dance will benefit three initiatives: One to bring power generators to places that lack electricity, a second to install water filtration systems in affected communities and a third to support a charitable organization called Puerto Rico Rising.
Organizers plan outreach efforts on Facebook to let donors know where their generosity went.
"As soon as there is a water filtration system put into a community," Manzo said, "we want to make sure we highlight it and show, 'This is where your funds went.'"
Tickets to the dance are $30 each, $50 per couple or $500 per table at https://events.ticketprinting.com/event/25050.
Mirna Lopez-Rivera, former president of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, has spearheaded The United Community of Aurora and been impressed by the way Aurorans have helped out.
The Illinois Math and Science Academy hosted the second drive, for Puerto Rico, Oct. 21 in its parking lot. More than 80 volunteers sorted and inventoried donations. Businesses donated warehouse space, gave money to offset the cost of the dance and helped coordinate the logistics of getting donated goods to earthquake-shaken and hurricane-torn towns.
"I've done drives before," Lopez-Rivera said. "But this was truly, truly different."
Organizers aim to make their efforts rise to a new level of positive impact by following through. They want to ensure everything collected in Aurora truly is handed out in Mexico or Puerto Rico to someone in need.
Laura Parra, one of the owners of La Chicanita Bakery in Aurora, is the group's connector in Mexico. She traveled there in late October to ensure the helpful items from Aurora aren't abandoned at a shipping yard, given to the government or resold for profit.
"We want people to trust in giving," Lopez-Rivera said. "We're going to follow through."
Lopez-Rivera will be the connector in Puerto Rico, where she grew up and where her brother still lives.
Her brother has told her the green island she remembers now looks "like a zombie apocalypse." He said his water service in Arecibo goes in and out, and what water does flow is a dark, dirty brown. His power doesn't work and the roads around his house, which suffered only minor damage because they are concrete, are in rough shape.
"I still can't wrap my mind around it," she said.
Lopez-Rivera plans to head to Puerto Rico on Nov. 20, facilitate delivery of items collected in the drive - especially water - and then bring her brother home for a while. Although conditions are rough in his hometown, Lopez-Rivera said her brother is reluctant to start anew.
"The ones that still have a little bit are afraid to leave," she said.
Next steps for The United Community of Aurora are uncertain. But organizers plan to be on call when need be.
"Natural disasters, unfortunately," Lopez-Rivera said, "are going to continue to strike again."