Local philanthropist funds plane tickets for Hurricane Maria victims

Angel Gomez was watching Good Morning America when he said he felt compelled to help.

Gomez was watching a report on October 13th on the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the deadly storm that ravaged Puerto Rico.

The report featured Lisbeth Vasquez, a woman taking care of her elderly parents. Vasquez had flown from New Jersey to San Juan to help.

Vasquez’s parents were left without electricity and running water. At the end of the report Vasquez said she wanted to take her parents back to New Jersey with her, but didn’t have money for a plane ticket.

“I saw the report. It hit me. I talked it over with my wife and we got a hold of Good Morning America in New York. They put us in contact with the producer,” Gomez said. “We decided to help this family and bring them to, where they wanted to go, with their family back in New Jersey.”

Gomez was able to purchase four tickets for the family to fly back to New Jersey on November 4. Gomez said he and his wife will meet with the family when they arrive in New Jersey. He said Good Morning America will be there to film the meeting.

“When I called her and I was telling her, we both kind of cried a little bit,” Gomez said. “Tears of joy.”

Gomez is no stranger to helping others. He is the co-founder of Operation Hope, a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping those in need in the Borderland. The group has held backpack giveaways, and has also helped pay for funerals.

“You can see it from your couch while you’re watching the news and say ‘man I wish I could do something,'” Gomez said. “Well you can!”

If you would like to help out with donations you can contact Angel Gomez at: (915)-590-0490