Direct Hurricane Maria Relief
Donation protected
My name is Guillermo A. Diaz, and my wife Tricia and I have reluctantly created this page after so many of our friends and family outside of Puerto Rico have asked us how they can help our family. My mother Ida T Martinez, my father Guillermo Diaz-Diaz, my sisters Maria Elena and Maria Gabriela Diaz, my two nephews Gabriel and Alejandro, and my brother-in-law Jesus Vera still live on the island.
Hurricane Maria devasted Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, and left the 3.5 million residents in dire need of help. My family there, just as 95% of the residents on the island, has been without electricity since the night of the storm. While this may seem an inconvenience to most, my sister is the main breadwinner in the household and, as a hair stylist, cannot return to work until power is restored. The earliest estimate to have power restored is 4 months, but they expect it to truly be 8-10 months before they'll have power.
She has made the painful decision to send her youngest son Alejandro to live with us, as well as my mother, who she's been in her care for some time now. We are looking for airfare currently so they can come over as quickly as possible and get Alejandro registered at a local school.
My father also lives on the island. His home is located in Maunabo, where Hurricane Maria made landfall with 160 mph winds and gusts over 200 mph. His home did not fare well at all, with his back patio completely demolished by the stream behind the house and the wind pulled off his entire garage enclosure, damaging his car. His other vehicle was overtaken by 2-3 feet of floodwater and is inoperable.
Thankfully, they do have enough food and water for the time being. However, as the cash they have at hand dwindles and they have no way of making any for the foreseeable future, we are asking for your assistance in any way possible. Our sole purpose is to have resources ready for them all as they begin to rebuild their lives at hand both on the island and starting a new life here in New Mexico. We plan on using the funds to send supplies to them directly, pay for airfare to bring them to the US if that is what they choose to do, and provide any support they may need as they recover from this disaster. Any funds not used to aid them directly will be donated forward to the Hispanic Federation's relief effort for Puerto Rico between now and July 2018.
Thank you all for your concern and support,
Tricia, Josh, and Gill
Hurricane Maria devasted Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, and left the 3.5 million residents in dire need of help. My family there, just as 95% of the residents on the island, has been without electricity since the night of the storm. While this may seem an inconvenience to most, my sister is the main breadwinner in the household and, as a hair stylist, cannot return to work until power is restored. The earliest estimate to have power restored is 4 months, but they expect it to truly be 8-10 months before they'll have power.
She has made the painful decision to send her youngest son Alejandro to live with us, as well as my mother, who she's been in her care for some time now. We are looking for airfare currently so they can come over as quickly as possible and get Alejandro registered at a local school.
My father also lives on the island. His home is located in Maunabo, where Hurricane Maria made landfall with 160 mph winds and gusts over 200 mph. His home did not fare well at all, with his back patio completely demolished by the stream behind the house and the wind pulled off his entire garage enclosure, damaging his car. His other vehicle was overtaken by 2-3 feet of floodwater and is inoperable.
Thankfully, they do have enough food and water for the time being. However, as the cash they have at hand dwindles and they have no way of making any for the foreseeable future, we are asking for your assistance in any way possible. Our sole purpose is to have resources ready for them all as they begin to rebuild their lives at hand both on the island and starting a new life here in New Mexico. We plan on using the funds to send supplies to them directly, pay for airfare to bring them to the US if that is what they choose to do, and provide any support they may need as they recover from this disaster. Any funds not used to aid them directly will be donated forward to the Hispanic Federation's relief effort for Puerto Rico between now and July 2018.
Thank you all for your concern and support,
Tricia, Josh, and Gill
Organizer
Guillermo and Tricia Diaz
Organizer
Tijeras, NM
