Cambridge Donation Drive for Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims to Be Held This Weekend

CAMBRIDGE, MA - After adopting four sister cities in Puerto Rico a few weeks ago, the Cambridge officials will be hosting two donation drives this weekend to collect critically-needed items for those Puerto Rico residents in need of relief after Hurricane Maria.

On Oct. 8, the Cambridge Police Department, the Cambridge Police Superior Officer’s Association and the Cambridge Police Patrol Officer’s Association held a "Drive 2 Support Puerto Rico," which netted hundreds of donations including food, first aid and toiletries for victims.

Collected items will go to support the residents of four towns where a significant number of Cambridge residents were born and/or currently have family the four newly adopted sister cities, Coamo, Jayuya, Orocovis, Salinas.

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Organized by Mayor E. Denise Simmons and the City of Cambridge, the donation drives will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Cambridge Water Dept., 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge.

A second drive will be held on Sunday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cambridge Police Dept., 125 Sixth St., Cambridge.

Organizers are looking for the following donations from residents:

ELECTRONICS

Batteries, Flashlights, Lanterns, Solar Lamps, Battery Operated Fans, Portable Radios, Water Filter Systems (Reverse Osmosis or Tested and Certified to NSF/ANSI Standards)

FIRST AID
First Aid Kits, Band-Aids, Gauze Pads, Antibacterial Wipes, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Anti-Diarrheals

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS
Mosquito Repellent, Sun Block, Work Gloves, Pop-Up Canopies, Tarps, Canned Pet Food

HYGIENE ITEMS/TOILETRIES
Feminine Hygiene Products, Toilet Paper, Diapers, Wipes, Diaper Rash Ointment, Adult Diapers, Disposable Bed Liners, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Dental Floss, Soap, Shampoo, Hand Sanitizer, Paper Towels

FOOD
Canned Items, Nuts, Ready-to-Eat Meals or MREs, Nutrition Bars, Boxed Milk, Baby Formula, Baby Food, Powdered Ensure

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

UTUADO, PUERTO RICO - OCTOBER 06: Jose Javier Santana holds a Puerto Rican flag he found on the ground after Hurricane Maria passed through on October 6, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico. Mr. Santana said that the flag in its torn and frayed shape is how Puerto Rico is now.