Hurricane Maria left a path of destruction in Puerto Rico leaving about 97% of the island’s 3.4 million residents without power, water or enough fuel. Many U.S. residents worried about their loved ones include Dallas Mavericks’ point guard J.J. Barea wondering how he could assist his native land.

WFAA reported it may have been the first time the Dallas Mavericks’ team plane landed with only one player aboard. Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban loaned the team plane to Barea to take supplies to Puerto Rico with most of it donated by North Texas.

Barea said in a statement:

It’s like a bomb exploded.  There’s nothing going the water’s ugly, houses don’t have no roofs and people are fighting for gas and water.

On Monday (Sept. 25) Barea and his friends loaded the plane with food, water, medicine, and generators.  He skipped the first day of practice and took off early Tuesday morning.  Barea hopes that the supplies make it back to his father and uncles who stayed behind.  His mother and grandmother returned with him back to Dallas and are already planning a second trip with supplies to the place he holds dear to his heart.

Our thoughts and prayers are going out the people of Puerto Rico and if you would like to make a donation you can do so by visiting the Hurricane Maria relief website.

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