An employee of Goettl Air Conditioning in Phoenix has been leading a donation drive to help people in the hurricane-ravished island of Puerto Rico.
Fernando De La Garza, a native of Puerto Rico, has been rallying employee efforts to donate clothing and other personal items for those still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria. Besides the clothing donations, Goettl Air Conditioning is also sending 610 flashlights to Puerto Rico. Other donations include blankets, powdered Gatorade and various toiletries and personal hygiene items.
Goettl Air Conditioning is known for giving flashlights to customers and neighbors while doing AC repairs in the field. Goettl Air Conditioning also uses flashlights in its marketing efforts, which outline how Goettl owner Ken Goodrich would hold a flashlight while helping his father complete AC repairs when Ken was a small boy.
“We hope to bring some light and comfort to people still struggling in Puerto Rico,” said Goodrich. “I’m happy to see our employees jumping in to help and I’m proud of Fernando for stepping up to lead the charge.”
Since Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, it has wreaked havoc on the island prompting food and water shortages while destroying much of Puerto Rico’s communications and power networks.
Garza, who hails from Puerto Rico, has family and friends who are still trying to recover and make ends-meet.