Long Island residents are doing their part in helping relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Residents brought supplies to a donation drop-off site at the Central Islip Art Center on Carlton Avenue Tuesday.
The donation drop-off is especially touching to Sandy Leach, a Hispanic civic leader in Central Islip who has a big family back in Puerto Rico.
"We can do something here to help them. It keeps us busy, grounded and focused and not worrying, otherwise we would be distraught and that won't help anybody," says Leach.
Margarita Espada, who organized the collection, has a daughter who was attending college in Puerto Rico when the hurricane hit.
The two women say they will continue to do anything they can to help those thousands of miles away and in desperate need of help.
"That shows us the love that this community and Long Island has. That has given me the energy to keep going," says Espada.
The Town of Huntington also announced Tuesday that it is collecting items needed for the victims in Puerto Rico.