Relief for Disabled in Puerto Rico

We need YOUR SUPPORT to provide DAILY ESSENTIAL SERVICES to Mentally Disabled individuals in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurriance Maria.  Donations are needed to keep our daily operations running 24/7 for 108 disabled individuals.  We must  purchase provisions and medicines and pay the wages of 180 caretakers.  Most of these invidiuals can't feed themselves.  In addition, most have incontinence and need to be changed.   This disaster has hindered greatly our capacity to receive the government funds we need, hence we are asking YOU today to support us through this GoFundMe campaign.

Above: Frankie has no family and depends on contributors such as yourself to cover his everyday needs at Instituto Psicopedagógico de Puerto Rico.

On September 20th, Hurricane María passed through Puerto Rico as a category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph.  The storm caused unprecedented devastation, flooding and severe economic damage.  Most of the island’s infrastructure collapsed, including telecommunications, emergency responsiveness, hospitals, and utilities. 

Above: Picture of damages in Puerto Rico.

As a non-profit organization tending to the everyday needs of 108 individuals, this general collapse has dire consequences to our operations.  It is our responsibility to provide services 24/7 to this population.  These services include: safe housing, provisions, feeding, health care, and personal care, among other basic services.  The fact that 80% of these individuals have profound and severe disabilities makes the situation even more complex.  Most have special feeding needs for their food and they have to be fed by caretakers.

In picture, Lucy being fed by one of our caretakers.

Our caretakers are having a difficult time reaching our facilities.  Many lost EVERYTING and they don’t even have the means to reach us.  In addition, most of our suppliers are currently not offering services, such as food and medicine distribution.

Our facilities are located over 6 acres of land in Bayamón.  There are 11 buildings and most of them suffered damages from the hurricane.  The Learning Center suffered great damages.  

Above: Daniel, one of our residents, looking at the damages caused by Hurricane María to his classroom.

Above: María Luisa, another resident with Intellectual Disability, can't believe the damages to classroom she attends everyday on the premises.

Above:   The zinc roofs from all five dormitories flew away. 

Currently, operations are flowing with limited resources.  There’s no electricity.   Services are supported thanks to the power generator.  However, it runs with diesel and  there’s an island-wide shortage of this precious resourse.  

Simple activities such as preparing food, are not so simple.  We distribute over 900 pounds of food DAILY to feed all individuals.

Above: Executive Director, Milagros Vargas, preparing food with a gas cook range.

Humbly, we ask you to donate TODAY and support our daily operations and our reconstruction efforts.  During this time of disaster and emergency we need all the assistance we can get so that we can care after the 108 lives that depend on us for their well-being and keep-sake.

THANK YOU for your consideration and kindness!  God Bless all of you!

Instituto Psicopedagógico of Puerto Rico is a non-for-profit from Puerto Rico that tends to the everyday basic and special needs of adults with Intellectual Disability.  The organization was established in 1949 and it's the only organization in Puerto Rico to offer integrated services of housing, health and special education, all under one roof.


To learn more about us visit us on the web:
Portal: www.ipprpr.org
FB: www.facebook.com/InstitutoPsicopedagogicoPR

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 363744
San Juan, PR  00936-3744

Our physical address is:
1195 Carr 2
Bayamón, PR 00959-7205