Local ministry seeks donations for Puerto Rico relief

Staff report

CAMPBELL

Templo Fuente De Gracia, 144 Woodland Ave., or Fountain of Grace Temple, is calling for donations of money and supplies to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

“With the way things are, there’s going to be a very long period of time before normalcy sets in,” Pastor Jesse Griffin said Friday. The disaster is similar to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he said, and years later the nation isn’t fully recovered.

Monetary donations will go toward sending a team from the ministry with a tractor-trailer to haul food and supplies to New Jersey, and then shipped to San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital. Puerto Rico is predicted to be without electricity for months.

The ministry is planning to purchase a number of LifeStraws, water filters capable of creating up to 260 gallons of clean drinking water. They’re seeking nonperishable food items, canned water and other relevant supplies.

A final date for departure isn’t set, but Griffin said they’re planning to deliver supplies in three to four weeks.

Tax-exempt donations can be made through the ministry’s website, www.blesspuertorico.org, or by mailing checks to the church address.