Pedro Pitches In

Like a good neighbor, Pedro Martinez is there.
Pedro is helping out his neighbors in the Dominican Republic who lost everything in the floods caused by Tropical Storm Noel.

People are hungry. They're exhausted. Hundreds are sleeping on the floor at Martinez's old high school, short on clothing and water and everything else they need.

"It's devastating. The area was just totally wiped out," Martinez said Wednesday on a conference call from his ravaged country. "They don't have anything. They're just waiting for us to bring anything, something to eat."

Martinez had planned to begin his offseason training program Wednesday in Florida, but he's staying home until next week so he can attempt to provide more assistance. He pleaded for others to chip in, too.

"I'm like the mayor here. People just run up to me and, I can't. I can't. I'm not enough," Martinez said. "I'm asking for help. I'm crying out, HELP! I can't do it by myself."

Martinez's wife, Carolina, joined him in Manoguayabo, the small suburb of Santo Domingo where Pedro was born. She said the entire community was flooded. They've heard one heartbreaking story after another from folks who lost their homes and belongings -- even their children when youngsters were swept away by the surging water.

"Those people were left like in the middle of the river. Some of the people were dragging their kids out," Martinez said. "It's horrible when you come and see it in person."

He's witnessed such destruction before. Recalling his childhood, Martinez told victims he had to evacuate his home in 1979 after Hurricane David, a massive storm that killed thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage.

"I know what it means to see your house full of water and have to go running, leaving everything behind," he said.

Now, Martinez fears disease will set in for many evacuees who are living in cramped conditions without safe water. He said any sort of aid would help: clothing, food, water, money, medicine. He hopes the large Dominican population in New York can make a difference.

"The government, it's going to take them a little while to fix everything," Martinez said.

The Mets launched a fundraising and public awareness drive Wednesday to assist the relief effort, and fans can make donations through the team's Web site or the New York Mets Foundation.