Help Tablonal, Puerto Rico!
Update: 12/6/17:
Check out the updates page for campaign statements & 3 ways we will be helping in December!
XO
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Update: 11/15/17:
Check out the updates page for some footage of the flood damage, "Thank You" videos, and pictures!
XO
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Update: 10/25/17:
Not sure if the updates show up on the main page, but we have started to ship down generators with outdoor extension cords down to Puerto Rico! Each package, no matter the contents, will also have this flier on the outside of the box, so the recipient knows you played a huge part in getting this to them.
PS: Check out the updates section for more images on our journey with you!
XO
(Note: this may feature you on the next one!)
As of 10/26/17 - this corrected version will be sent to all & resent in the 10/27/17 shipment. I am so sorry Lydia & Orlando. Your names were on the first draft, but I had to shift things around to fit with the PS design I made and it didn't copy correctly when I was moving things around. 
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Original Post 9/28/17:
Hi everyone. My name is Mariko Perry & I am writing to you all from NYC. Many of you know my fiancé, Luis, and have asked me how you can help, so I have created this page to help not only family members of his, but also whoever we can reach if enough money is raised.
The past month or so has been devastating with the weather – the earthquakes, Harvey, Irma, and Maria. It feels never ending. To watch the destruction and devastation these weather events brought on to family, friends and even strangers has not been easy…
I’m reaching out for help with the latest hurricane, Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in devastating ways. Many in Puerto Rico were “fortunate” with only loss of electricity and water, and minor damage if any to their homes; however, many lost everything, not only with the brutal force of the winds and rain, but also with the flooding rivers. Many of us are more familiar with the East coast of Puerto Rico – primarily San Juan; however, I’m writing and reaching out for the West Coast of Puerto Rico, and the destruction one of the rivers had on a town that my fiancé, Luis, is from – Tablonal.
The Rio Culebrinas was one of the many rivers listed with “Flash Flood Emergency” watches during the hurricane. After the images of Harvey and how those rivers overflowed, I only imagined the worst and prayed for the best. Some of Luis’ family live “down the block” from the Rio Culebrinas. After about a week, we finally heard word that part of Luis’ family was spared the extensive damage Maria produced, but some of his family who lived by the river lost everything.
I am here to help fundraise money, not only for our family in Puerto Rico, but if enough money is raised, I would love to allocate/distribute the remaining funds for other families in Tablonal who need the extra assistance. Hey, if this grows bigger than I imagine, we’ll be able to help more of those in need in nearby towns! Ideally, I'd love to be able to help others in Aguadilla, Aguada and Mayaguez as well - anyone on the West Coast who needs it, but I need your help. You might think this campaign is a bit premature since supply efforts are just starting, sure, I get that, but I want to start fundraising now rather than later as when the next weather event happens, our focus and attention will be placed elsewhere. The people of Puerto Rico need all the help they can get!
Any donation is greatly appreciated no matter how big or how small. 100% of the funds will be donated towards helping rebuild and replace what was lost.
Please also include your name when you sign and where you are from (especially if I do not know you personally), and if you can write a message of hope for those families would be inspiring. After the fundraising event is over, I will be sure to include all of your names and your messages to the families that the money will be distributed to. If there is a way to leave your email, I will be sure to send an update in the upcoming months as well.
Let’s help others, as we would want to be helped in times of need, and as others have helped us in times of need. Let’s love one another even if and when we don’t know each other.
“We rise by lifting others” – Robert Ingersoll.
Please feel free to share this with anyone you may know. Any and all help is extremely appreciated.
(Please also see my PS at the end of this message)
Thank you so much. God Bless.
XO,
Mariko
PS: I do ask that you do not share this campaign with anyone in Puerto Rico that we may know mutually that might pass the word on the campaign if possible. It is imperative that they do not know until the campaign is over and money is distributed. If shared on Facebook, please try to block any Galloza members in Puerto Rico, or PM / email and share, again, if possible. I am not sure how successful this campaign will be, so I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. Thank you!
Additional Notes:
1. The rebuild will be a long process, so this campaign will not end until we are able to go down to Puerto Rico ourselves to distribute the funds, cards etc. Again, as stated earlier, please include your emails so that I can update you on this campaign journey.
2. There are fees that are taken out in each donation by GoFundMe. Please be assured that I will do my best to cover those fees to ensure the total of how much was raised reaches/is distributed to the families in need. Thanks!
3. AS OF 9/29/2017: It is important you are all aware that the money will be withdrawn into my personal USAA checking account. I was unaware at the time of startup that money would be withdrawn prior to stopping the campaign. I originally had it tied to my personal account, however, as of 9/29/2017, I have opened a new account that will solely be for this purpose. I will release the statements (possibly as a screenshot if a pdf can not be uploaded) as they become available. The total on the account will be about 8% less than what is shown on the campaign page. Again, the roughly 8% is GoFundMe's fees.
4. Fund distribution will not occur until a later date - updates will be posted in regards to that. Either a check, money order or cash (depending on the amount) will be given out to the beneficiaries. A list will be drawn after the campaign has ended and will be disclosed to all who have donated. The final amounts have not been determined since the campaign is ongoing. All of this info will be released as it becomes available. Again, I will be flying down to Puerto Rico to distribute funds to our family to help them rebuild their homes and their lives.
5. Here are some photos of how the river affected our family. The first pics (from The Weather Channel/Google) are ones I took screenshots of on 9/20/17 when the rivers were reaching flood stage. Note: these images are not exactly from the flooding of our families house (they were taken from a video posted on Facebook that was shared with me). I am sharing these images based on phone conversations with relatives on what it was like for our family when the river started to flood their home. It not only came in from the floor, but also from the windows. It was not only fresh river water, but it was mixed with salt water from the ocean which is why there was total loss for them. If I can find a way to link the original video, I will do so.
