Rays charter plane for Puerto Rico relief effort

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Wednesday morning, the Tampa Bay Rays teamed up with other local organizations to charter a jet and deliver much needed humanitarian aid to Puerto Rico.  The payload was some 22,000 pounds’ worth.

The situation on the ground there is still dire.  Many residents left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“These folks need help if someone tells you the supplies are getting there they're not,” said St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who also went on the trip.

After delivering supplies, some residents in need were flown to Tampa, including those suffering from cancer.

Also among those brought back to the mainland, the parents of Rays coach Charlie Montoyo.

“It is going to be hard from our mind and our heart to forget what we went through,” said Nydia Montoyo.

Left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno also made the trip to Puerto Rico, where he was born. He remains there with family.

Moffitt Cancer Center, USF, State Representative Janet Cruz, Course of Action Puerto Rico, and Ponce Health Sciences University partnered with the Rays to make the trip happen.