Canandaigua organization sends volunteers to New Orleans, one of many areas hit hard by Hurricane Ida

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WHEC) — Canandaigua-based Re-Lief Corporation is sending some of its volunteers down to New Orleans, one of many Gulf Coast areas hit hard by Hurricane Ida.

Relief has been pouring in from all over the country, but there’s still a long way to go. News10NBC talked to the president and CEO of Re-Lief Corporation who just got the call to head south and help those in need.

For years now, this humanitarian relief organization has been providing resources and delivering supplies during, and after natural disasters.

As coastal Louisiana recovers from the catastrophic damage left behind by Hurricane Ida, volunteers from all over the nation are helping those affected by the storm get back on their feet again. Wanda Martinez-Johncox, President, and CEO of Re-Lief Corporation are leaving with two other local volunteers headed for New Orleans this Saturday to join other organizations such as Team Rubicon and NOLA Ready in the clean-up effort.

"Cleaning up the streets," Martinez-Johncox said. She continued, "There’s so many trees down, homes destroyed. So it’s cleaning up. There’s so many people, over 1-million people with no power."

Martinez-Johncox says they will also bring some locally donated items such as flashlights, and much-needed diapers for young children, but that’s not all.

"A lot of stuff is personal hygiene, and stuff that’s eco-friendly. I try to, we have a few portable solar, in case somebody needs it for their C-PAP machine or something like that. So we have those too ready to go," Martinez-Johncox said.

This latest natural disaster is one of many Martinez-Johncox has been called to. Over the years she’s served as a relief volunteer in her native Puerto Rico, and in the Bahamas after they were hit by hurricanes and even earthquakes. She says areas hit by a hurricane are never the same.

"Especially the community of New Orleans, they’re not ready for something like this. They got hit with Katrina, and I feel bad that they getting hit again. It was a Category 4. Very strong hurricane," Martinez-Johncox said.

She goes on to say, she and the other volunteers are expecting to remain in New Orleans for at least one week and may stay even longer if needed.