Florida Hospital, in partnership with Cox Media Group Orlando and the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, hosted a second “Blessings for Puerto Rico” collection drive in the US state of Florida, where Central Floridians showed their generous support for the ongoing Puerto Rico relief efforts by filling a total of eight 24-foot box trucks with dozens of pallets of donated items.

The items, including hundreds of prepackaged meals, bottled water and baby supplies, will be shipped to the island later this week. The items are in addition to the more than 40,000 meals and other critically needed items that were sent to the island earlier this month after the first Blessings for Puerto Rico collection drive in Orlando. 

“The television and radio properties of Cox Media Group Orlando are honored once again to partner with Florida Hospital,” said Paul Curran, market vice president for CMG Orlando.

“The second Blessings for Puerto Rico event will supply much needed relief to the people of Puerto Rico who continue to be severely impacted by this historic storm.” 

Items will be shipped via 45-foot long containers and distributed in Puerto Rico by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. The shipping containers will then be converted into housing in Puerto Rico for those who have been misplaced.

“The need Puerto Ricans are still facing is critical,” said Daryl Tol, president and CEO of Florida Hospital and Central Florida Division – Adventist Health System. “It’s been heartwarming to see our community rally together and come out time after time to help them back on their feet as they recover and rebuild.”

The list of needed items was created by Florida Hospital emergency physician teams who were on the island for nearly a month, in conjunction with response agencies and health care organizations. Four teams of doctors provided critical care and assistance to local physicians, while also assessing the island’s overall health needs.