Help my family in Puerto Rico
Donation protected
Hola dear friends,
As you may know, my beloved Island, Puerto Rico, has been through two big hurricanes in the last month. The last one, Hurricane Maria, destroyed the Island. I was able to talk to my best friend and my brother recently, when they described the situation they said that everything looked like it was bombed. Right now, several members of my family (as of the rest of Puerto Ricans in the Island) are dealing not only with the shock of what just happened, but they are trying to reconstruct their lives with what they have left. Some lost their homes and belongings, other lost their jobs and many have little to eat, safe drinking water and little or no cash. The shelves at grocery stores are pretty empty (even in San Juan), government says help is on the way, but my best friend and other people from the country side says that they are not getting the help that they report on social media and TV. There are only a few post offices open (the one in my town is still closed). I still haven’t talked to mami and many family members; although I got news that they are fine. There is no electricity in the Island; people are making 10-16 hours lines to get gas at the gas stations. Elderly are dying without medication and without the electricity that they need to stay stable. There is less than 20% of the population with running water.
In situations like this I’m usually the one that offers help and many people rely on me to help them. This time is different. This time I’m asking you for help. My goal is to help four members of my family. The first person is my mother in law, Diana Matos. Diana lost her house and almost all her belongings like furniture, appliances, mattresses, kitchen gabinets, clothing and other furniture. In 1998, she lost her home during Hurricane George. Dia and I were devastated when we heard her say that she lost everything again. The second person I want to help is my best friend and brother, Jerry Mendez Ferreira. Jerry and his mom Fela (Felicita Ferreira) lives in a very humble house in the outskirts of our town San Sebastian. They lost part of the roof, furniture was damage with water and he lost all his personal belongings including most of his clothing. Jerry is currently out of a job because of the two hurricanes. The third person is my dear aunt Carmen Seguinot Fuentes and her husband Gume. Their home was flooded and everything inside the house was damaged. They are humble people, retired and without a job. The fourth and last person is my brother Jochy Seguinot. Jochy works in a small restaurant in the west side of the Island, he has four children. Last year, with a lot of effort he and his wife were able to buy a home. Because of Hurricane Irma the restaurant he works at was flooded and I still haven’t been able to talk to him to find out if the restaurant still exists. He hasn’t been able to work in almost a month now and he needs the help. There are more needs in the family, but so far the people listed here are the people in my immediate family with the biggest needs.
The money is going to be use for the following:
Send cash for gas and for them to buy water, canned food and personal care products
Medicines
Flashlights
Lanterns
Battery fans
Batteries
Water filters
Clorox wipes and baby wipes
Dog food
Building materials (like wood, metal, concrete bags, tarps)
Basic furniture (chairs, bed frames, tables)
Basic home appliances (small gas stoves and coolers, mattresses)
Clothing and shoes
Towels and bed sheets
Power generators (is estimated that they are going to start restoring electricity in 2-3 months, specialists says that it might take 1 to 2 years to restore power to all residents and businesses in the Island)
Shipping costs
As you may know, my beloved Island, Puerto Rico, has been through two big hurricanes in the last month. The last one, Hurricane Maria, destroyed the Island. I was able to talk to my best friend and my brother recently, when they described the situation they said that everything looked like it was bombed. Right now, several members of my family (as of the rest of Puerto Ricans in the Island) are dealing not only with the shock of what just happened, but they are trying to reconstruct their lives with what they have left. Some lost their homes and belongings, other lost their jobs and many have little to eat, safe drinking water and little or no cash. The shelves at grocery stores are pretty empty (even in San Juan), government says help is on the way, but my best friend and other people from the country side says that they are not getting the help that they report on social media and TV. There are only a few post offices open (the one in my town is still closed). I still haven’t talked to mami and many family members; although I got news that they are fine. There is no electricity in the Island; people are making 10-16 hours lines to get gas at the gas stations. Elderly are dying without medication and without the electricity that they need to stay stable. There is less than 20% of the population with running water.
In situations like this I’m usually the one that offers help and many people rely on me to help them. This time is different. This time I’m asking you for help. My goal is to help four members of my family. The first person is my mother in law, Diana Matos. Diana lost her house and almost all her belongings like furniture, appliances, mattresses, kitchen gabinets, clothing and other furniture. In 1998, she lost her home during Hurricane George. Dia and I were devastated when we heard her say that she lost everything again. The second person I want to help is my best friend and brother, Jerry Mendez Ferreira. Jerry and his mom Fela (Felicita Ferreira) lives in a very humble house in the outskirts of our town San Sebastian. They lost part of the roof, furniture was damage with water and he lost all his personal belongings including most of his clothing. Jerry is currently out of a job because of the two hurricanes. The third person is my dear aunt Carmen Seguinot Fuentes and her husband Gume. Their home was flooded and everything inside the house was damaged. They are humble people, retired and without a job. The fourth and last person is my brother Jochy Seguinot. Jochy works in a small restaurant in the west side of the Island, he has four children. Last year, with a lot of effort he and his wife were able to buy a home. Because of Hurricane Irma the restaurant he works at was flooded and I still haven’t been able to talk to him to find out if the restaurant still exists. He hasn’t been able to work in almost a month now and he needs the help. There are more needs in the family, but so far the people listed here are the people in my immediate family with the biggest needs.
The money is going to be use for the following:
Send cash for gas and for them to buy water, canned food and personal care products
Medicines
Flashlights
Lanterns
Battery fans
Batteries
Water filters
Clorox wipes and baby wipes
Dog food
Building materials (like wood, metal, concrete bags, tarps)
Basic furniture (chairs, bed frames, tables)
Basic home appliances (small gas stoves and coolers, mattresses)
Clothing and shoes
Towels and bed sheets
Power generators (is estimated that they are going to start restoring electricity in 2-3 months, specialists says that it might take 1 to 2 years to restore power to all residents and businesses in the Island)
Shipping costs
Organizer
Samarys Seguinot Medina
Organizer
Anchorage, AK
