Update: Supplies will be collected on the first floor of the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m until Friday. 

Update: The Puerto Rican Student Association will be extending their supply drive through Friday. 

Iowa State’s Puerto Rican Student Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will be hosting a supplies drive Tuesday to support victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. They will be accepting donations from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on central campus. 

Items sought include canned and dry food, water bottles, toilet paper, first aid kits, batteries, flashlights, water filters and other food and personal hygiene items.

According to Valeria Soto, the president of the Puerto Rican Student Association, there is still no electricity and running water on most parts of the island, and her family has said water, batteries and fans are much needed. People seeking relief from the heat are using fans, but the batteries eventually run out.

The collection in Ames is being coordinated by Ames resident Wilma Pillot, who has family in Puerto Rico. Pillot has already received donations from the Ames Police Department, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, the Hach Company, patrons of her home daycare and from family members. She will be collecting donations until Oct. 15.

The contributions from Iowa State’s drive will be combined with those from other collections in central Iowa and sent to cities in most need. They will be pooled into a 48 foot container provided by Jesus Torres, the owner of the Douglas Auto Island in Des Moines. Torres is paying for the items to be shipped via boat when the container is full or on Oct. 25. Donations can be brought to Douglas Auto Island, located at 2700 Douglas Ave. in Des Moines. 

“It’s just wanting to help,” Soto said, “We really feel like we can’t do anything from over here. We want to be over there with them. We want to help them rebuild, but we really can’t, so it’s just the least that we can do to take help to them- for the people who have lost their homes, that have lost their family members. It’s really shocking to see all that’s happening, so it’s just for us trying to do our best and help in the least way that we can.”