A Bay area non-profit is searching for a plane to offload supplies and help those suffering in the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico.
- Charter plane backed out before Puerto Rico effort
- 'United as 1' collecting donations since Maria hit
- Organizers working to get more transportation
Volunteers for "United as 1" have been collecting donations ever since Hurricane Maria hit. The initial plan was to drop off the donations, then bring back critical patients who need hospital care.
But this past weekend, that plan was stalled when the charter plane they were hoping for backed out.
The team was devastated.
"To see that hurt in people's eyes, you could see it," said United as 1 founder Julie Ann Padilla. "Their hearts were crushed. We knew that we had the ability to help people, we just wanted the ability to do it."
Eighty patients were waiting for that charter flight out of Puerto Rico.
Volunteers managed to get a few of those patients on another private plane that was already on the ground. The Pepsi Company donated that space.
Meanwhile, organizers are working hard to get more transportation so more patients in Puerto Rico can get the help they need.
"I'm still calling and recalling and touching bases with everyone who said, 'Well maybe I can," said assistant Ester Vazquez. "Maybe is enough for me."