This story elaborates on an article published at 5:49 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017: Housing, healthcare, education help planned for increased migration from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastation: officials

HOLYOKE -- Fine-tuning the help directed to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico was the theme of meetings and a press conference held Thursday with representatives from Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee and Westfield.

They emphasized that people who want to help Puerto Rico should make financial contributions and cease donations of food and water.

The reason is that stacks of food and water are sitting undelivered because the hurricane left roads impassable, so money is the best way to help, they said.

Western Mass United for Puerto Rico has established an account called "Western MA Puerto Rico Relief Fund" to help Puerto Rico at Freedom Credit Union. Donations can be made at any of the institution's 10 branches, said Edward Nunez, assistant vice president of commercial lending at Freedom Credit Union.

Work also is being directed to help what could become an increased migration of people here from Puerto Rico, so housing, healthcare, employment and education officials are involved in such discussions, officials said.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello of Puerto Rico said the United States commonwealth is nearing a "humanitarian crisis" as its 3.4 million residents face long lines for food, unsanitary conditions and the closure of many hospitals in the wake of the hurricane's damage.

Hurricane Maria struck Sept. 20.

The impact is felt in this region as about half of Holyoke's population of 40,000 is Latino, most of whom are from Puerto Rico, and 38 percent of Springfield's population is Hispanic or Latino.

Jossie M. Valentin, Ward 4 representative on the Holyoke City Council, said it was the nature of Puerto Ricans, who are "strong and resilient," to team up help.

That effort not only will be needed but must be accompanied by patience because the work could last a while, she said.

"All of those folks in Puerto Rico need all of us here," Valentin said.

The group of officials, clergy, service providers and nonprofit groups that has formed to drive the assistance is called Western Massachusetts United for Puerto Rico. Members gathered for a press conference Thursday on the sidewalk outside of Nueva Esperanza Inc., 401 Main St.

The collaboration has been working well, Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez said.

"The community has stepped up. The community is doing its fair share," Gomez said.

Gomez urged those who want to help and are seeking information to contact himself or other coalition members to ensure up-to-date information is issued and help is sent to where it is most needed.

Many local families have been worrying because they have been unable to contact relatives and friends in Puerto Rico with the hurricane having damaged communication lines.

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, a member of the local coalition and director of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, led the press conference and introduced the speakers. She concluded by saying she was among those who hadn't heard from a family member until talking on the phone Thursday with her father in Puerto Rico.

"I heard his voice and that meant a lot to me," said Lugo-DeJesus, who said her participation was as a coalition member and not as Racism Institute director.

Residents of Puerto Rico could migrate to this area in large numbers and will need housing, health care and education, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse said.

"This is obviously the right thing to do. We welcome Puerto Ricans with open arms. They're American citizens," Morse said.

Morse held a meeting to plan for such help with representatives of Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke Health Center, local landlords and state housing officials, he said.

It was unclear how many people would be coming to Holyoke to escape their hurricane-damaged homes in Puerto Rico, he said.

"We don't really have an estimate," Morse said after the press conference. "Anecdotally, we've heard that people may be coming."

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno released a statement Thursday night reiterating that the regional effort's priority must be on financial donations.

Checks can be made payable to, attention: Edward Nunez Western MA Puerto Rico Relief Fund c/o Freedom Credit Union P.O. Box 3009 Springfield, MA 01101-3009, Sarno's statement said.

Nunez said the fund had about $7,300 as of late Thursday afternoon, not counting the donations up to $5,000 that the credit union will match.

The credit union will manage the account with transparency and that among checks and balances are that two signatures are required for a withdrawal, he said.

"It is very important for us to account for every cent that comes into this account," Nunez said.

Also, Sarno said he has directed his staff to plan for possible arrivals to Springfield of people from Puerto Rico.

"Mayor Sarno has also spoken to with Gov. Baker's Western Mass Director Mike Knapik on facilitating state assistance and Congressman Neal on federal assistance, too. We will continue to update our assistance efforts accordingly," Sarno's statement said.

State Aaron M. Vega, D-Holyoke, praised the work in the coalition and other parts of the effort to help Puerto Rico of Nelson R. Roman, the Ward 2 representative on the Holyoke City Council.

"He stepped up before anyone else was even talking about this," Vega said.

Eddie Diaz of the Westfield Spanish American Association and Roman also made remarks during the press conference.