“This is a forgotten island,” Bethenny told People. “People have been living on their roofs for 13 days. It is like nothing I have ever seen. People’s entire homes and cars are immersed in mud, the likes I’ve never seen.”
But not all hope is lost. In a separate video posted to Instagram, Bethenny met a woman named Gloria Cruz. Rather than complaining about how hard things are right now, Gloria welcomed Bethenny in and said, “We have life.”
The two embraced, and Bethenny gave Gloria $500 as she listened more to her story.
After all four of the private planes had been unloaded and the supplies had been distributed, Bethenny loaded them back up with cancer patients and people who needed medical attention. Together they flew back to the continental U.S. for further treatment.
“The low death toll is only counting what happened when it hit, but a storm happens more gradually than a hurricane,” Bethenny told People. “Now is when people are dying. They are starving. They are thirsty. They cannot communicate. They cannot bathe themselves. They wash their babies and laundry in street water.”
Bethenny’s organization is on its way to raising $1 million for Puerto Rico relief efforts.
We can’t all afford to charter private planes and supply 15,000 pounds of food to those in need, but we can absolutely be part of the solution.
Remember the parable of the widow’s offering? Jesus watched as crowds of people brought their money to give. The rich threw in large amounts, while a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins. She gave all that she had, and her sacrifice is one that Jesus uses to teach us all what it means to truly give of ourselves.
Bethenny isn’t just throwing money at these people, she’s spreading awareness.
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Anything you can give, helps. Anything you can do to increase awareness, helps.
What better time to share the love and HOPE of Jesus, than when people are desperately searching for hope?
For more information on how you can help with Bethenny’s efforts, visit her charity website here.