Emergency Puerto Rico Relief Fund
Donation protected
One week ago, Hurricane Maria--a powerful category 4 storm--made landfall in Puerto Rico, shutting down its power grid entirely, trapping residents in their homes and jumpstarting a series of devastating floods.
Mainstream media attention on the U.S. mainland has thus far been lackluster, even as supplies have begun to slowly flow in; it is true that it has been difficult for journalists to travel to and within the island, but the structure of colonialism which has dictated the island's existing debt crisis (and associated humanitarian struggles) has only added to the neglect. In lieu of national attention, everyday Puerto Ricans have enlisted the help of charities and news organizations like Univision to bring updates to folks looking to verify the whereabouts of their loved ones and organize donation drives.
I live in Tampa, Florida with my family, but I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where many of my extended family and friends still live. For days, I was unable to reach my cousins, my grandmother, my godmother, my aunts, uncles and friends living in Manati (Residencial Zorilla, Altagracia, Monteverde y San Jose) and in Naguabo. In Manati alone, photos of the damage are devastating: streets are flooded, homes that families worked hard to build have been shredded to their spines. Debris fills the streets.
The relief effort necessary to rebuild my island home will be mammoth and is expected to take months, even years--particularly in communities furthest from the city center, in the mountains. My people are in desperate need of compassion, and ongoing monetary support as thunderstorms and high temperatures further threaten the safety and livelihood of thousands of American citizens.
To do my part, I am collecting money from individuals and businesses to make purchases of water, food, clothing, diapers, batteries and other supplies to be distributed to families in Puerto Rico through a series of vetted charities, with an emphasis on organizations based in Puerto Rico or run by Puerto Ricans and other allies with crucial knowledge of local context and history.
Such charities inclue but at not limited to:
-Hurricane Maria Community Relief and Recovery Fund (money sent here will go to local organizations; the fund is managed by groups like Taller Salud, the G8 of Caño Martín Peña, and others)
-The Maria & Irma Puerto Rico Real Time Recovery Fund
-Fondos Unidos de Puerto Rico
-Caritas Puerto Rico
Everyone there needs help, but your donation will be especially crucial for women, children, the elderly, and those on limited incomes, who are among the most vulnerable. As donations flow in, I will post regular updates on the organizations I plan to send the money to, and what specific supplies will be purchased and shipped.
Please give what you can: $1, $5, $10, $100. Every dollar counts. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, please share this link on your social media accounts and help spread the word.
Thank you! Your kindness won't be forgotten.
Mainstream media attention on the U.S. mainland has thus far been lackluster, even as supplies have begun to slowly flow in; it is true that it has been difficult for journalists to travel to and within the island, but the structure of colonialism which has dictated the island's existing debt crisis (and associated humanitarian struggles) has only added to the neglect. In lieu of national attention, everyday Puerto Ricans have enlisted the help of charities and news organizations like Univision to bring updates to folks looking to verify the whereabouts of their loved ones and organize donation drives.
I live in Tampa, Florida with my family, but I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where many of my extended family and friends still live. For days, I was unable to reach my cousins, my grandmother, my godmother, my aunts, uncles and friends living in Manati (Residencial Zorilla, Altagracia, Monteverde y San Jose) and in Naguabo. In Manati alone, photos of the damage are devastating: streets are flooded, homes that families worked hard to build have been shredded to their spines. Debris fills the streets.
The relief effort necessary to rebuild my island home will be mammoth and is expected to take months, even years--particularly in communities furthest from the city center, in the mountains. My people are in desperate need of compassion, and ongoing monetary support as thunderstorms and high temperatures further threaten the safety and livelihood of thousands of American citizens.
To do my part, I am collecting money from individuals and businesses to make purchases of water, food, clothing, diapers, batteries and other supplies to be distributed to families in Puerto Rico through a series of vetted charities, with an emphasis on organizations based in Puerto Rico or run by Puerto Ricans and other allies with crucial knowledge of local context and history.
Such charities inclue but at not limited to:
-Hurricane Maria Community Relief and Recovery Fund (money sent here will go to local organizations; the fund is managed by groups like Taller Salud, the G8 of Caño Martín Peña, and others)
-The Maria & Irma Puerto Rico Real Time Recovery Fund
-Fondos Unidos de Puerto Rico
-Caritas Puerto Rico
Everyone there needs help, but your donation will be especially crucial for women, children, the elderly, and those on limited incomes, who are among the most vulnerable. As donations flow in, I will post regular updates on the organizations I plan to send the money to, and what specific supplies will be purchased and shipped.
Please give what you can: $1, $5, $10, $100. Every dollar counts. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, please share this link on your social media accounts and help spread the word.
Thank you! Your kindness won't be forgotten.
Organizer and beneficiary
Katherine Yannice
Organizer
Riverview, FL
Jorge Rodriguez
Beneficiary
