Neighbors Helping Neighbors in PR

Show Puerto Rico We Care!
by Delia Sosa

As many of you know, I have family in Puerto Rico who have been impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. My cousin, Erika, has been spending her time canvassing her neighborhood collecting information about the families who are struggling to survive in their homes, many with no roof or missing walls. It is still the rainy season and many people are left exposed to the elements in badly damaged homes. She told me she is compiling a list of damages because no one from the government has done so yet, and she plans to bring that list directly to the mayor in hopes of speeding the arrival of aid for these families. In the meantime, Erika and other family members have been working to get them vital necessities because recovery workers are overwhelmed with all the destruction on the island and individual families are in desperate need.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors- that's the goal and the true spirit of resilience that many Puerto Ricans are embracing! Your contribution will directly help the families in Coto Laurel (Ponce), PR where my cousin has had "boots on the ground" from Day 1 doing as much as she can to help her community. Will you consider lending a helping hand to support these essential efforts?

Please see below for a message from my cousin, Erika, along with info about the families that will benefit from your donation:

"When Hurricane Maria hit, thousands of lives were changed. In a blink of an eye people lost everything, some of them even lost hope. This is why we are asking you to help in the relief efforts for families who were affected inside of our community, Coto Laurel in Ponce.

With your donation, you will help families in this community receive food, water, medicine, batteries, clothes, hygiene products and any supplies that are needed. But most important of all, you will be helping them regain hope.

No amount is small, and anything you are willing to give will go exclusively to those who we have identified that need it most.

Thank you, and may God bless you and keep you always."

Some of the families who will benefit from your kindness:
(This is only a small sample of the destruction that is within walking distance of my grandmother and aunts' homes- I will provide updates with more stories from the families Erika encounters and who you will be supporting with this campaign.)

"In this house lives a single mother with 3 kids, two of them are special needs kids. They are living in their house the way it is now because they have nowhere else to go." (Imagine living in this house raising 3 kids- no protection from wind/rain and no privacy with the entire wall missing)

"In this house lived a couple. For years they have been working to maintain and take care of their little sanctuary. As you can see, the winds of hurricane Maria destroyed their home."

"In this house lived an 80 year old lady. She took care of her granddaughter within these walls and was now looking forward to see her great-grandson grow up here as well. Those hopes were shattered once Maria hit our island and destroyed this elderly woman's home." (Notice how the roof is completely exposed)

We are asking you to donate in order to help these families in the relief efforts. Please stand with us to support the long process of recovery that our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters are facing!

This is how I picture my cousin as well as all the other Puerto Ricans who are doing the same to rebuild their communities in any way they can:

Please help us make a difference for these families, no matter how small!

With love and gratitude,
Delia <3