Clean Energy for Puerto Rico

Check out the videos from the trip:

You can see 4 short films about the trip here: https://praytellfilms.com/a-puerto-rico-story/

 

Updated October 10th.

The equipment that I brought that all of you paid for was very appreciated. There is still a lot more to do. Thousands and thousands of people are lacking the basic infrastructure that we take for granted every day. Sometimes I felt like it was just a drop in the bucket but every drop really did make a difference and sometimes I was overwhelmed with emotions.

This campaign got a lot of attention including a new film studio that wants to tell stories that need to be told. They asked if they could document the trip and even though I was a little weirded out about being on camera at first, I’m so glad that we are working together to tell these stories. They provided a lot of resources including a vehicle, which made everything so much easier.

You can see the 4 short films here: https://praytellfilms.com/a-puerto-rico-story/

Previous update:

Based on the amazing donations received so far I've raised the goal and I am adding larger solar chargers and biolite cook stoves to this trip. Any funds leftover from this shipment will be delivered after my first trip. I have been offered to ship goods for free once the shipping options open up, via either air traffic or sea traffic. I need to asses the situation. The lack of information is crippling. 

One thing that would help get supplies would be for congress to release the "shackles" on the people of Puerto Rico known as The Jones Act . But the US Congress has rarely been kind to Puerto Rico. 

Original Pitch:

Puerto Rico needs our help.  The island was devastated by two hurricanes in a row. 100% of the power grid is down. There is no running water. Puerto Rico is part of the United States. Puerto Ricans are US citizens.



Puerto Rico needs help. I'm traveling down there this friday september 29th to try to get to my mom's house in Luquillo. I haven't heard from her and need to see how she is. 

I want to bring a suitcase full of portable solar chargers and life straw water filters to distribute while I'm there. My assumption is that the cellular networks will start working before the power grid does.

These solar chargers will charge cell phones and will run some LED lights. This will allow communications to resume and people can get in touch with their families. 



The Lifestraw water filters are very well designed and affordable and there is still no running water. Water borne diseases are going to be a big problem.



Biolite Campstoves can be used with sticks, aka biomass. You can't bring fuel on the plane so these were great to bring. There are plenty of sticks on the ground!

I'll distribute them as I travel through PR to people who seem to need them most, starting with the Senior housing facility where my mom lives. 

I'm also going to rent a satellite phone with unlimited minutes so that people can make contact. I'll power the phone with the same solar chargers. 

If you want to just purchase the items I will need them to arrive by thursday the 28th. You can ship items here:

John Humphrey

844 Nostrand Ave 

#551

Brooklyn NY 11225

If you want to PayPal me directly I'm [email redacted]

If I have extra funds I will pay to check an extra suitcase. If it goes above that I'll get a bigger shipment delivered via a private plane that is offering to carry cargo once the airport opens for private planes. I'll deal directly with the manufacturer of solar chargers to get as good of a deal as possible. If anyone has contacts at lifestraw please reach out to me.

I'll need to place the order for lifestraws wednesday morning and finalize the chargers order by thursday.