ABINGTON, Pa. — Since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last month, a number of Penn State Abington students have been anxiously waiting to hear from family and friends who live there.
The situation “hits very close to home,” said sophomore Marianella Romero.
Her mom, a 28-year Air Force veteran, and step-dad left for the island last week to search for her elderly grandparents in a rural area two hours from San Juan.
“My mom and I talk a little bit, but it takes a while for the messages to get through since cellphone service is so limited,” she said. “It’s hard, and I’m upset. I want everyone to be okay.”
At her mom’s urging, Romero is directing her energy into mobilizing the Abington community to help the citizens of Puerto Rico. She and other members of the student organization Sister2Sister, many of whom have relatives on the island, are staging a collection drive called, “It’s Time to Take Action,” through Oct. 19.
Romero approached Tina Vance-Knight, Sister2Sister adviser and director of the Center for Career & Professional Development, for assistance.
“Tina gathered all of the resources that she possibly could to support the drive,” Romero said.
“Not everyone is in the economic position to give large amounts of money, but telling other people about the drive doesn’t cost anything,” the first-generation college student said. “If you can’t donate, we are just asking you to have the heart to think of other people. Put yourself in their shoes. They are human beings. Take time to consider what they are going through.”