‘Hispanic Recovery Plan’ offers free PPE in underserved communities
DALLAS (NewsNation Now) — Volunteers with the Hispanic Star Dallas Hub — in partnership with with Ketsali Hospitality, the YMCA, and local organizations — handed out personal protective equipment to people in need across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ahead of Thanksgiving.
Procter and Gamble sponsored the project.
Leader of the Hispanic Star of Dallas Hub and CEO of online media marketing company Social Revolt, Marty Martinez says the project is known at the “Hispanic Recovery Plan”.
“We were able to secure over $200,000 worth of supplies from everything from PPE to hygiene and cleaning supplies to donate specifically for a Dallas community,” said Martinez.
Research from the National Institute of Health and the CDC shows the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately effecting underserved communities at an alarming rate.
This is why these volunteers took matters into their own hands to ensure vulnerable groups have the supplies they need. Martinez says within two days, his team was able to help distribute about 28,000 pounds worth of donations from Procter and Gamble.
“We were fortunate to partner with a lot of charities here in Dallas that already had a built in network of constituents with people in need,” he said.
They partnered with the YMCA in Dallas and set up a donation drive where nonprofits and charities could safely pick up the items .
Each box is filled with the necessary equipment to keep people safe.
Martinez is encouraging others to take part giving back this holiday season.
“If we wait for the government and legislation to pass and save us, I think we all realize that it might be too late,” explained Martinez. “It really meant a lot for me from growing up from very humble beginnings — I’m a son of immigrants — and to be able to be in that position to give back. It is incredibly moving.”
Through the initiative, he says he hopes to start a chain reaction inspiring people to be the change that they wish to see in the world.
Despite their large donations, the Hispanic Star says the need for PPE in Texas is vast. They are already working to get another truck load of supplies in early January from Procter and Gamble to give out to people in need.