An online flyer from the Hispanic Community Council of Chautauqua County, detailing the items it is collecting as part of the relief effort for Puerto Rico.

JAMESTOWN – Supermarkets are gradually re-opening in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, but the situation is far from normal and many customers are going home disappointed.

A week after Hurricane Maria ravaged the U.S. territory, most food stores and restaurants remain closed. That is largely because power is out for most of the island and few have generators or enough diesel to power them. The shops that were open Monday had long lines outside and vast empty shelves where they once held milk, meat and other perishables. Drinking water was nowhere to be found.

In Jamestown, several groups are working to collect supplies and donations and then send them to island. The Hispanic Community Council of Chautauqua County is collecting food, supplies and money to help the residents of Puerto Rico.

In a Facebook post from Sunday night, the council is encouraging are residents to donate anything from clothing, diapers, bottled water, and baby food as well as batteries, flashlights and other emergency items. Council representative Miguel Correa-Ortiz of Jamestown offered more details.

“They can bring the donations to either the Salvation Army or the American Red Cross and other Churches in the area, including the one in Russell at the Praise Fellowship,” Correa-Ortiz said. “Any donation is fine and we will be very happy as the Puerto Rican Community.”

Items can also be dropped off at two locations in Chautauqua County including the the Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life  Church) at 502 Spring Street in Jamestown.

Correa-Ortize also offered an update on how Puerto Rican residents are holding up in the days following the storm, saying that many are still without electricity or means of communication.

“There are some provisional cell phone towers right now that will facilitate the island locally that will connect the mayors of each municipality, which is very important. There’s a region in the central area of the island that has a hospital and they have electricity. FEMA is doing a fabulous job in establishing all the generators that we need, especially in the hospitals.”

The council has set up a square-up page for monetary donations.

Jamestown Fire Fighters are also collecting water that will be sent to Puerto Rico.  Both today and Wednesday there will be a collection of water at the Morton Club on Pratt Avenue from 1 to 7 p.m.

Photo Caption: The Chautauqua County Disaster Response Team poses with Bill Tucker, American Red Cross of Southwestern New York executive director; Tina Jones, American Red Cross of Southwestern New York emergency services manager; and Randy Sweeney Chautauqua Region Community Foundation executive director; during a recent meeting.

JAMESTOWN – During a rain filled spring that left many throughout the Chautauqua region underwater, the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York responded by providing residents shelter and flood clean up kits.

To assist with future flooding and other disasters in the community, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation awarded $10,000 to the Red Cross from the Chautauqua County Assistance Fund. To date, the Chautauqua County Assistance Fund has granted over $50,000 to the Red Cross for disaster relief services.

According to Bill Tucker, American Red Cross of Southwestern New York executive director, this grant will enhance the impact volunteers impacted areas and to use their experience to help others in need.

If you would like to become a trained Red Cross disaster volunteer able to respond locally, regionally, or nationally, please call the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York at 664-5115 or go to www.redcross.org/swny and learn how to join.

This year’s campaign chairman is retired Red Cross Executive Director and Current Chautauqua County Legislator Vince Horrigan of Bemus Point. Today’s official kick-off will take place at 4 p.m. at the Girl Scout Service Center on Horton Rd. in Jamestown.

The local United Way supports 19 partner agencies and 46 programs throughout Southern Chautauqua County.