Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - In support of the thousands of victims in Acapulco, Guerrero who were affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Manuel, Puerto Vallarta's DIF and Red Cross have established emergency supply collection centers throughout the city.

Miguel Angel Soto Barajas, the sub-director of DIF programs, said that on Wednesday they will begin collecting household goods and non-perishable food to support not only the people of Acapulco, but also families throughout the country that were affected by the storm.

He stressed that the local collection will be held from Wednesday through Friday in coordination with the Mexican Red Cross, which will be in charge of the transportation, distribution, and delivery of the collected items. "We have joined this humanitarian campaign in order to send some help to the Mexican people who are in critical condition," he said.

Needed items include: bottled water, sugar, coffee, cans of tuna or sardines, canned beans and vegetables, powdered milk, dried beans and lentils, rice, dry soup mixes (e.g. Knorr), chicken bullion, salt, mayonnaise, cooking oil, as well as disposable diapers, toilet paper, feminine towels, shampoo, bath soap, detergents and cleaning products, brushes, buckets and brooms.

He said that to involve the public, collection points will be installed in four commercial outlets, these being the Plaza Marina, the Soriana at Playa de Oro, and the Walmart and Sam's stores across from the Maritime Terminal.

Donations can also be dropped off from 9 am to 5 pm at the DIF offices located in the old Regional Hospital building, City Hall in downtown Puerto Vallarta, and the Municipal Administrative Unit (UMA) in Colonia Portales.

He added that they have designated a total of 24 DIF workers to man the collection centers, placing 4 people at each donation module who will be in charge of collecting the emergency supplies.