MAKING A DIFFERENCE – David Medina y Gisela Rodriguez
By David Triana
David and Gisela Rodriguez live in Tallahassee, but are originally from Jayuya, Puerto Rico. David is the owner of the Defined Software Development and Gisela is an immigration attorney.
Jayuya, like the entire island of Puerto Rico, was literally destroyed by the Powerful Category 4 Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017 and literally took out the electrical grid for the entire country while destroying thousands of homes.
Like many other Puerto Ricans in our region, David and Gisela, immediately started working in their community to collect emergency supplies to deliver to the people of Puerto Rico.
David and Gisela went to Puerto Rico in January to personally deliver more than 70,000 pounds of supplies that Tallahasseans had donated and personally delivered them to help over 2,000 families. What they saw was impressive scene of destruction with thousands of homes destroyed and people still living without power and basic supplies months after.
That visit in January was the genesis for what they are calling Phase 2 of their support to Puerto Rico. In this case, to the town of Jayuya directly.
For Phase 2, they have formed Team Jayuya and partnered with the Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Their plan will include not just taking supplies to Jayuya, but also to collect funds and needed equipment to also construct homes for those that lost theirs to Hurricane Maria.
Team Jayuya recently returned to Puerto Rico and were accompanied by WCTV news reporter Ben Kaplan and Videographer Michael Hudak. Antoine Wright, the Executive Director of Big Bend Habitat for Humanity also traveled.
A series of videos titled “Mending Puerto Rico” made by the WCTV crew can be found in their website. Go here: MENDING PUERTO RICO VIDEOS HERE: http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Mending-Puerto-Rico-II-A-familys-love-helping-to-heal-hometown-473983653.html
On 24 February, David and Gisela hosted the first official fundraiser of Phase 2. The event included a Latin music band that traveled from Gainesville and donated their services, many volunteers and delicious Puerto Rican food cooked by Chef Danny Rivera, who traveled from Jayuya specifically for the fundraiser. The event was a great success and was attended by all members of Team Jayuya and a wide variety of people from the Tallahassee area. They raised $10, 455.25. This money and all donated money towards Phase 2 of this effort will go towards helping those families in David and Gisela’s beloved hometown get back on their feet.
Conexión congratulates David and Gisela for Making a Difference in the lives of thousands through her efforts and likewise for others who are doing similar things. We also encourage our readers to support this worthy cause. For more information or to donate, go to: www.gisellemariefoundation.com
Find info on Team Jayuya also in Facebook: www.facebook.com/gisellemariefoundation
NOTA DEL EDITOR: Este segmento de “HACIENDO LA DIFERENCIA” es acerca de dos personas, originarias de Jayuya, Puerto Rico, que han organizado un Proyecto de ayuda a las personas de su pueblo natal afectadas por el Huracán María, que destruyo muchas casas y dejo sin electricidad a la mayoría de la población de toda la isla. Aun ahora, hay mucha necesidad en toda la isla e instamos a nuestros lectores a que consideren donar a este proyecto o ayudar directamente ya sea a Team Jayuya, sino también a otros proyectos similares. Puerto Rico aun no está completamente recuperado y aún hay mucha necesidad. Pon tu granito de arena como puedas. Dentro de este artículo, hay una página web y pagina de Facebook con más información.