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Moving forward in Puerto Rico

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I have been in Puerto Rico 8 months working to document the devastation caused by two back to back hurricanes. Everything costs more in Puerto Rico, and I have somehow managed on less than three thousand dollars. Now I am in need of funds to replace broken and weather worn equipment from use in ruff terrain. My days start at 6: 00 am with a cup of coffee. It is what I can afford. My day ends are around 1: 00 am. I am not on vacation. As the next hurricane Season approaches I am trying to be fully prepared to document events as they happen.There have been reports that conditions in Puerto Rico are much better, I have wittnessed and photographed many experiencing  just the opposite. Many still have no electric power, clean drinking water, clothing , acess to health care and bacis hygenic supplies.There are people living in houses with no roofs,  walls or stable foundations. black mold covers their walls and they are foced to breath the poisned air within there homes because they have nowhere else to go.. My initial plan was to be here in Puerto Rico for just one week ,I had been requested to deliver solar panels and batteries  for a young boy who needed them for his oxygen machine within 24 hours. I was on my way to the airport 30 minutes after receiving the phone call to pick up the panels and get them on the plane. The Airline would not permit me to put the panels on the plane which had been driven from west Virginia, and so I boared the plane without them. When I got to San Jaun I met with Hector Gonzales and with the help of voluteers already on the Island we were able to buy panels and a marine battery. I installed the solar panels on the roof , hooked up the battery to a power inverter and that mission was accomplished When I arrive there was $180.00 in my bank account. Plus I had $400.00 from the photo shoot that I did for The Carneige Museum Of Art in Pittsburgh ,Pa. That amount is now $80.00.  My plan was to be here for one week, But then after meeting and working with Boondocks K 9 Search And Rescue Unit Inc. and seeing the  need for documations of their tireless and non -stop work to deliver much needed supplies and medical care to the forgotten People of Puerto Rico, Just as when I spent six months working with the Oceti Sakowin Camp Media  Team at Standing Rock , helping to tell the story of the Lakota protecting their water and sacred lands . I realized that I had to stay and help our family here in Puerto Rico. Now what I need from anyone that can and is willing to help me remain here  working for at least six more months is  support in order to continue to tell the stories of our Puerto Rican  sisters and brothers because their struggle is our sturggle. Won't you help us? One love  One heart One mother Earth
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Tom Jefferson
Organizer
Homestead, PA

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