Midlands Restaurant to Host Donation Drive For Puerto Rico

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- A Midlands Restaurant is hosting a donation drive to send supplies to Puerto Rico.

The manager of La Isla Bonita say its been a struggle contacting family in Puerto Rico and getting them help.

“The things that we’ve actually all taken for granted was taken from our island,” Brendaliz Crepo-Gonzalez , manager of La Isla Bonita said. “It instantly broke my heart.”

It’s been a week since hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, and the state is still suffering.

The La Isla Bonita restaurant off Percival Road in Columbia is asking for supplies to send aid. The restaurant is known for  dishing out hot plates, but lately they’ve been doing more collecting.

“We’ve got people from all over South Carolina that are actually willing to do small donations and then to bring them to us on Saturday,” Crepo-Gonzalez said.

When ABC Columbia News dropped by on Thursday evening we saw trunk loads of donations being dropped off.  Everything from pampers, to bottled water.

Crepo-Gonzalez says once Maria hit Puerto Rico she instantly lost contact with her family, which left her feelingl helpless.

“It was hard and it was heartbreaking,” Crepo-Gonzalez said. “To know that you couldn’t get in contact with your family and you’re over here. You can’t get to them because they’re not a drive away.”

With help from the Hispanic Leadership Council,  La Isla Bonita is racking up all the non perishables they can to send help to Puerto Rico.

“They don’t know us personally, but they’re actually willing to come together as a community as one and help and donate because they care,” Crepo-Gonzalez said.

The donation drive will be held here on Saturday, September 30th from 8am until 5pm.  Owners say if you can’t give donations,they hope you can donate your time and volunteer throughout the day to help with loading up trucks and organizing donations.