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Family Relief Fund Maria Aftermath

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Given the fact that so many friends and colleagues have reached to us asking how they can help we decided to start this page.

As you all might know Mayda and myself are from Cacao Hacienda, Orocovis, Puerto Rico one of the most isolated geographic areas in Puerto Rico who was hit by Hurricane Category 5 Maria. Some of the aftermath consequences toward our family members are:
-Our mother Angelita 58; and a 26 year veteran second grade teacher who is 4 years away from retirement and  lived in a one way road isolated area in the top of a hill  lost the only access to her home. Additionally, preliminary analysis of the home foundation  showed that the water currents dig a hole below the home; leaving the home a total loss.  This hurricane wiped her sacrifices of 42 years. In previous hurricane disasters even that my mothers income which is less than 27 k a year she has only been offered  FEMA loans.

-Our niece Lorraine a recently graduated RN and in the process of obtaining a license, currently working in Toro Verde Adventure Park as a waitress;  with a one year old boy has been placed on hold to take her RN bar examination; has lost most of her roof and personal property along with her only income source as a consequence of this disaster and how devastating it was for our hometown of Orocovis.

-Our sister Mariel owns a concrete home, however all her property was damaged including the small beauty salon she manages at her home. Due to the magnitude of devastation and the geographical location of our hometown is likely she won't be able to rely on power or operate her business at least for a year. She also has a 21 year old autistic son who which has a prefrence to a very specific diet; along with other needs.

-As we continue to hear from loved ones we also learned that our 83 year old grandamother home, and our 65 years old uncle Nelson homes blew up (a portion of the funding will be used to send them clothing, and other much needed items).

We are certainly experiencing a lot of confusion and concerns as the federal government assign funding,
and how POTUS has responded to the devastation of American citizens in the island. Please write to senators and representatives to advocate for your American brothers and sisters.

 At this moment Mayda and myself have more questions than answers; flights to leave the island are restricted, people is stock at the airport and we need to relocate Angelita and Lorraine in an island where almost 60 % of the population in each of it's 78 towns is currently homeless staying in emergency shelters (public schools mostly).

***Please be aware that your donation will only be directed to our 3 family members and we are not affiliated with any organization or government agency seeking funding toward Maria Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico.***

Please continue to pray as we find comfort and guidance with this process. Thank you for the support as we waited 5 days to hear from them. We will also appreciate little notes or "check ins",  an ear  that listens and cry with us or your unlimited prayers in what is the most difficult moment of our lives.

We are also asking you to keep this campaign running only among intimate colleagues and friends or by you referring the campaign to a close contact family member-colleague.

Thanks in advance and may you be blessed!
Mayra Garcia-Rivera
Mayda Rivera-Peña

Below is an article about our hometown which until 9/24 was only reachable by helicopter.
Additionally,  there is another NBC interview in the neighbor town of Morovis which captures some of the devastation which repeats in every one of the 78 towns in Puerto Rico.
https://www.facebook.com/nbcnightlynews/videos/10155909199453689/
https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/retratodeorocovistraselpasodelhuracanmaria-2360414/
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Donations 

  • Sandra Johnson
    • $500 
    • 6 yrs
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Mayra Faviola Garcia-Rivera
Organiser
St. Paul, MN
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