ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis community is uniting to support Puerto Rico in the aftermath of a St. Peters woman being charged with torching multiple businesses there while on vacation.

The Puerto Rican Society, Inc. of St. Louis hosted a fundraiser for Luichy’s Seaside Hotel, along with Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez (Ward 6), on Sunday afternoon.

“We’re very just upset that this would happen during the holiday season in the heart of Christmas season, which, on the island, lasts until mid-January, that someone would be so brazen to set these businesses on fire and then just leave and not be held accountable,” Velazquez said.

Salsa Rosado was packed with support for the recovery of the beloved Cabo Rojo businesses devastated by accused arsonist Danielle Bertothy.

“A lot of people in Puerto Rico and the island, they think we’ve forgotten about them, but we haven’t,” Hector Vega, a parliamentarian and board member of the Puerto Rican Society, said. “We are still connected with our roots down there. We still have our family.”

Both the mayor of Cabo Rojo and the owner of the hotel thanked the PRS for its fundraising efforts. An anonymous donor generously pledged to match all donations from the event up to $10,000. As of Sunday afternoon, $6,300 has been raised.

For more information:

Puerto Rican Society, Inc. fundraiser for Luichy’s Seaside Hotel
Puerto Rican Society, Inc. silent auction to benefit Luichy’s Seaside Hotel