‘Pudge' helps Rangers raise money for Puerto Rico relief efforts

As a humanitarian crisis unfolds in Puerto Rico after being ravaged by Hurricane Maria, the Texas Rangers held a raffle to raise money for the victims.

So many have already helped with Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Many of the same people are now helping with Hurricane Maria, including fans who bought raffle tickets Monday night.

The American past time has a way of bringing out the best of America.

Anita Ocker is one of many at Globe Life Park who bought raffle tickets.

“I've seen pictures and it just breaks my heart because it's a beautiful area,” she said. “I've been there on a cruise — beautiful area. And it was just devastated.”

The Rangers will donate the proceeds from Monday’s raffle to help those in Puerto Rico.

Few feel it more personally than Rangers legend Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. He couldn't get in touch with his dad in Puerto Rico for five days. His family is okay, but the situation isn't getting better for his family nor others.

“They're okay. They have generators and stuff like that,” Rodriguez said. “But the problem is there's no fuel. There's no diesel. There's no gasoline and no gas. Desperation is there.”

Rodriguez and several other Puerto Rican-born baseball players are using the spotlight to get help and to get donations, and their efforts are working.

Some of the donations have already been arriving at a warehouse in Las Colinas. There are already more than 100,000 pounds of goods.

“In house right now, we have roughly 10 truckloads and more to come,” said Beau Lamothe with Premier Global Logistics.

It comes from folks like Dr. Staci Benson.

“We just want to help,” she said. “We are fortunate to have what we have and they have nothing there right now.”

The people of Puerto Rico have very little now. But the generosity of their fellow Americans on the mainland is on its way.

“This situation that we have going on in Puerto Rico is not a one month, two months, one year,” Rodriguez warned. “It's going to be more than that because the whole island is completely done. They needed to pretty much rebuild every single town in Puerto Rico.”

Rodriguez said he is going to try to get back to Puerto Rico in a couple weeks but will probably just stay for a day.

Click here to donate to the United for Puerto Rico Fund.