Local Best Buy supports employee, after earthquake devastates his family in Puerto Rico

MEDFORD, Ore. — A Medford man is saying thank you to his coworkers, after they stepped up to help him after a tragedy struck his family home in Puerto Rico.

Erick Rodriguez’s Best Buy coworkers saw the toll the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in December took on him, and rallied together.

“Seeing how I was over here and then the tragedy struck and not being able to help them directly I started growing desperate,” said Rodriguez.

They started raising money for the Puerto Rico native to go home to help his family through the difficult time.

Rodriguez says his mother and sisters were living in their car because their home was so badly damaged. He says he came to work everyday but his heart was with his family.

General Manager Chris Folgate says he was shocked when he heard what happened and wanted to do something to help.

“His supervisor is like look he can’t afford to go home,” said Folgate. “He sent all his money home and that’s when I was just like okay he’s not asking for help but he needs it.”

Folgate says he contacted Best Buy’s corporate office and they offered to pay not only Rodriguez’s flight but both his rental car and spending money.

“Words couldn’t come out to express how grateful I was. Just tears basically. It was very overwhelming, but it was a very nice experience and I owe them a lot to say the least,” said Rodriguez. “It’s like an extended family basically. We care back and forth about each other and I’ve never experienced that before. Never.”

His coworkers raised over $1,000. The GoFundMe is still open. All proceeds will help Rodriguez’s family rebuild their home in Puerto Rico.

You can donate here.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Skip to content