Thanksgiving Spirit: Ohio School Raises Money For Puerto Rico

WESTLAKE, OH — In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a Westlake school is doing its part to help the Puerto Rico-based family of a local student. Holly Lane Elementary School hosted a Penny Wars fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the student's family in the devastated U.S. territory.

Hurricane Maria traced a path of brutal destruction through the U.S. territory, leaving it in tatters. The region still suffers from a lack of reliable electricity and a destroyed infrastructure. At least 34 people were killed in the wake of the Category 5 storm.

Bernice Baker, who is from Isabela, Puerto Rico, moved to Westlake a dozen years ago with her husband, Marcello Loureiro. The couple's children attend Westlake City Schools. Victoria Loureiro is an eighth grader at Lee Burneson Middle School and Rui Loureiro is a third grader at Holly Lane.

When school officials and students learned that Hurricane Irma had impacted the Baker family, Holly Lane put together its fundraiser, Penny Wars. The school raised nearly $1,000. The money will go directly to supplies for Baker's relatives.

Baker is planning a surprise visit to Puerto Rico for Thanksgiving.

“After everything they had been through, they deserve a happy Thanksgiving,” Baker said. “Also, I want to bring help to the less fortunate.”

Baker's friends and Westlake neighbors have been donating supplies to Puerto Rico, but the need for help is still extremely high. Most of Baker's family remains in Isabela, and the surrounding towns of Aguadilla, Quebradillas and Arecibo. Many of her family members have no power and only a few have running water.

"They have to adjust to a different and difficult way of living,” Baker said, adding that it was devastating watching news reports about the damage from the hurricane. “The northwest part of the island where my family is was completely uncommunicative with the rest of the island and the world. After four days I got a phone call from my aunt who drove over an hour to get cell phone service.”

Baker will pack as many supplies as she can into her luggage for the trip to the island. Baker said she's using the money raised by Holly Lane to buy water filters, solar lamps and bug repellent. She intends to donate those items to her family and others in need in Puerto Rico, through Elpyda, a local nonprofit organization in Puerto Rico. She suggests donations be directed to this group through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Esperanzaengriego/.

“I’m extremely grateful for the Westlake community and Holly Lane. They have become my family,” Baker said. “I’ve never been through something like this before. The community’s willingness to help and donate has been an amazing experience.”

Photo from Westlake Schools