Layla Vazquez earned the crown of Miss Puerto Rico Yonkers at the age of 16 in 2010. Although Vazquez lives in Yonkers, she has family on the island, in the city of Guyama, on the Caribbean coast.
To help raise funds, she started a GoFundMe campaign on September 20, with a goal of raising $2,000. As of October 5, 32 people had donated to the project, raising a total of $1,345.
Individuals hoping to raise money for a good cause, or to help out after a natural disaster, can use poster printing to get the word out in their area.
In the days following the hurricane, Vazquez had difficulty contacting her family in Puerto Rico. Phonelines were down, but Vazquez was able to use social media to keep track of what was going on in Guyama. Her grandparents had survived the storm, but were left with almost nothing.
Speaking to the Yonkers Daily Voice, Vazquez stated:
"This is a human necessity, this is human survival.”
Along with her fundraiser, Vazquez has been gathering supplies to send to the island, shopping at big box stores and supermarkets. She plans on bringing the items to a Long Island warehouse, which will make sure they get shipped to Puerto Rico.