 George Barnes Telegram & Gazette Staff @georgebarnestg WORCESTER — Hurricane victims from Puerto Rico found a little hope Wednesday at a job fair at Centro Inc. social services agency on Sycamore Street. The fair brought together employers and job recruiters to meet with people from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, many of whom were left unemployed in the aftermath of the double hit of Category 5 Hurricane Irma and Category 4 Hurricane Maria. The hurricanes passed through the islands within two weeks of each other in September, causing widespread devastation. With conditions barely improving nearly three months later, many people headed to the United States to stay with relatives. Roberto Diaz of Centro Inc. said the event was an effort to find jobs for people who found themselves out of work after the hurricanes and self-evacuated from Puerto Rico. He said he and many others have families in Puerto Rico who are still struggling. Puerto Rico sustained severe damage from Hurricane Maria. Marangelis Hernandez said her hometown of Gurabo took a direct hit. She said she moved here because conditions were so bad back home. "It came through there, and now there are no lights, and water comes and goes," she said. Trees are down and infrastructure damaged, leaving many businesses in more isolated areas closed indefinitely. Ms. Hernandez said she has family in Puerto Rico who are still dealing with problems. "Right now I am looking for any job I can get," she said. Ms. Hernandez and Sheila Castellano, also of Gurabo, attended the job fair and met with Rosa Torres, Human Resources specialist for Imperial Distributors of Worcester. Ms. Castellano said she was also looking to take any job she could get, but she wanted to follow through with a career in criminal justice, which she had been studying at National University College in Puerto Rico. Along with looking for work, she is looking to enroll in Worcester State University's Intensive English Language Institute. Ms. Torres said Imperial Distributors supplies non-food items to grocery stores. She said they were at the fair looking to hire a variety of people, including stockers, shipment selectors and shipping and receiving workers. "We're trying to reach out to those in need," she said, adding that the company employs many people who speak Spanish and are able to help train new employees. Along with jobs for the hurricane evacuees, the Worcester For Puerto Rico Committee will receive $30,000 to continue its efforts to help those affected by the hurricanes. The United Way of Central Massachusetts in collaboration with Worcester public schools, Centro Inc., Friendly House, Worcester Community Connections, city officials and U.S. Rep. James McGovern received the grant through the Boston Foundation acting as agent for the Massachusetts United for Puerto Rico Committee. The fair drew more than 60 people, many of whom walked out with a good chance at a job. Robert Branca Jr. of Dunkin' Donuts said he was likely to hire everyone he spoke to, as there is a shortage of workers locally and nationally. Michelle Duffy of Rescom, installers of energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, said the company is looking for canvassers to knock on doors to help advertise their product and seek new customers. The job pays $12 per hour and hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. She said she also wants to hire people to work at shows and other events on the weekends to promote the company. Those jobs pay $17 per hour. Many of the jobs offered were for unskilled labor. UMass Medical School was looking for people for their call center, other companies sought workers for housekeeping, manufacturing and other jobs. One man with welding skills found immediate work. Delio Fernandez, marketing outreach director for Centro, said the event was a success, drawing 28 businesses and many job seekers. He said they are looking to do a second job fair in the spring when the weather is better, hoping not only to help out the Puerto Rican evacuees, but find jobs for the people in the community in general. Let's block ads! (Why?)
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