Relief agencies are building a bridge between Miami and Havana to aid the island victims of Hurricane Lili.
Catholic Charities, an arm of the Archdiocese of Miami, and the Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys issued a plea Friday for donations of canned food, powdered milk, sheets, medicine and cash. The aid will go to the people of Cuba, the agencies said, not the government.
``I give you a personal guarantee that these donations will go directly to the people,'' said the Rev. Francisco Santana of the Ermita de la Caridad. ``I have thousands of letters testifying that the aid provided by the church does not go into the government's hands.''
Donations will reach Cuba through the humanitarian group Caritas.
Hundreds of callers flooded WQBA's phone lines Friday to offer aid.
``They were all saying it's marvelous that we can send assistance to Cuba without having the Cuban government interfere -- first because the eyes of the world and the press are looking on and second because the Catholic Church will be the one to distribute the goods to the needy,'' said Agustin Acosta, station manager and morning radio personality.
Acosta said people were dropping off checks at the station's lobby to support the effort -- more than $10,000 as of Friday night.
``We are asking the [Cuban] community in Miami to donate cash, which we need to pay for the transportation'' of goods, said Alfredo Sanchez, executive director of the local Red Cross.
``At this time, the people of Cuba need us,'' Santana said. ``Anything you can do will be most appreciated.''
Copyright © 1996 The Miami Herald