When the water rationing in Puerto Rico entered its third week, a group of Puerto Rican volunteers in Florida answered the call. Linda Perez, founder of the Tampa‑based disaster‑relief nonprofit Boricua de Corazón, organized a drive in Orlando to pack 5‑gallon water containers for families on the island.

Local effort, island‑wide impact

Perez, who first started the organization after Hurricane Maria, said the team has already distributed dozens of containers to households struggling to store clean water. “We don’t need a bandage; we need to fix it,” she told reporters, emphasizing that short‑term aid must be paired with long‑term solutions.

While the volunteers were loading boxes in Orlando, they also prepared a shipment for Colombia, responding to a recent earthquake that devastated Afro‑Colombian communities. “They are the most impoverished area in Colombia,” Perez noted, underscoring the nonprofit’s broader humanitarian reach.

Why the crisis persists

Fernando Rivera, director of the Puerto Rico Research Hub at the University of Central Florida, explained that the water shortage is the result of years of underinvestment, damage from Hurricane Maria, and ongoing financial strain. “It feels like a never‑ending saga for Puerto Rico over the last two decades,” Rivera said, adding that accountability has been elusive. He cited a recent lawsuit filed by the mayor of San Juan against the island’s water utility, which in turn blamed other parties, illustrating the blame‑shifting that hampers progress.

Family ties drive the mission

For Perez, the work is personal. Her 81‑year‑old mother endured 17 days without water, followed by another 14‑day stretch without water and three days without power. “Enough is enough,” Perez said, recalling the hardship her family faced.

Despite the challenges, Perez remains hopeful. She explained that Boricua de Corazón means “Puerto Rican with our heart,” a name that reflects the organization’s commitment to both the island and the diaspora.

Community response during Hispanic Heritage Month

As Hispanic Heritage Month unfolds, Rivera urged Floridians to remember the resilience and generosity of Puerto Ricans. “Our kindness here should extend to Puerto Rico, planting seeds of knowledge and perhaps sparking solutions,” he said.

The effort in Florida illustrates how local communities can mobilize quickly to support relatives and neighbors abroad, offering both immediate relief and a reminder that lasting change requires systemic investment in infrastructure and responsible governance.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.