A Helping Hero

Toa Baja, Puerto Rico - Kathy Dyer, Salvation Army volunteer from East Windsor, CT,  was deployed to the disaster recovery of Puerto Rico to provide daily essential services to families in need. She was assigned the role of Operations Officer, and Dyer, a mother of two and grandmother of 9, urgently rolled up her sleeves to actively provide help to many remote areas. In areas, like Toa Baja, up to 300 people would be provided essential supplies. Socks, diapers and wipes, food boxes, water, personal products including soap and toothpaste were distributed. “I’m always looking for ways to improve the lives of others,” Dyer said. “I was told about the mission trip and I couldn’t think of anything I’d want to do but devote myself to that.” Dyer used two weeks of her work vacation time to volunteer to the cause.

Many in Puerto Rico remain without electricity and some without running water. “I met one woman who had no water or electricity and needed to travel over mountains to get emergency supplies,” Dyer said. “When she came to meet us, she was just exhausted, but so happy that we were there to give her what she needed to survive.” Food and water distribution typically helps a family of four for about one week.

Bottled water is an essential item that Dyer distributes at every mobile operation. “Water is very helpful,” Miguel Myruul, a resident and disaster survivor of Puerto Rico said. “People don’t have any water up in the mountains. They have to depend on other people to bring them water. This is going to help out a lot of people.” Mryuul, originally from Brooklyn, NY believes, in the long run, Puerto Rico is going to be even better. “I look forward to people coming back in again.”

Upon the conclusion of her volunteer deployment in Puerto Rico, Dyer has plans to continue to make a difference in the lives of people throughout her community in Connecticut. “This has given my life direction and meaning,” Dyer said. “It’s been so fulfilling, I want to be sure to carry this on.”