Unidos por Puerto Rico a true united effort
Even if it’s left the daily news cycle, the effects of Hurricane Maria are still being felt in Puerto Rico. Much of the island is still without power, and countless families have moved to the mainland U.S. to restart their lives.
Last weekend, MetroHealth staff and community partners came together in a big way to help out.
We partnered with the City of Cleveland to cosponsor Unidos por Puerto Rico, a free health and wellness fair to support Puerto Rican residents who have moved to the Cleveland area following the Hurricane.
Literally translated, the event’s name means “united for Puerto Rico,” and that was definitely the case. More than 150 attendees joined us at Lincoln-West High School to talk with representatives from 42 agencies, local businesses and churches. We had staff from our HR, the Office of Opioid Safety and Women’s Health departments to welcome guests to Cleveland. We provided health and dental screenings, gave tours of our School Health Program Mobile Unit and provided financial and eligibility counseling.
Everyone enjoyed music from a strolling violinist, free book distribution, children’s activities, and delicious lunch catered by Haguit Marrero, owner of Pura Cepa – who recently arrived here from Puerto Rico himself.
Special guests included City of Cleveland Community Relations Board Director Grady Stevenson, Councilwoman Jasmin Santana, and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish.
Special thanks to the 50 MetroHealth staff members who dedicated their time, effort, and Saturday morning to make the event a resounding success for our newest neighbors!
To see more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.
