PR Rebuild - CA student trip
Donation protected
*6/18 UPDATE -- We are in Puerto Rico and have begun work. These kids worked extremely hard today in an area (San Isidro) that is a drastic reminder of how much help is still needed here. They worked in 90+ degree heat unloading wooden frames and tons of lumber at 3 locations that are going to be used for construction of 9 new homes, and dug holes in rocky ground for supporting posts. If you want to see more (and pictures), please visit our webpage: www.facebook.com/NorCalTeens4PR/
For anyone still giving - we will make sure that your donation is received in full by the noted organizations.
*UPDATED -- added information required by GoFundMe (at bottom), and also updates to the organizations we will be working with.* *6/13/18 -- additional update to the orgs - noted below.
***********************************************
It has been over 8-1/2 months since the Category 5 storm made a direct hit across Puerto Rico last September. While electrical power is restored to most areas, there are still over 14,000 people who have not yet regained electricity, and full black-outs are common. A recent study was published suggesting that the official death toll (originally stated as 64 people) may be severely understated – with several thousand deaths attributable to hurricane-related causes. Also, there are many houses still without roofs and this year’s hurricane season is already underway.
HOW WE CAN ALL HELP
In just a couple of weeks, I will be taking a group of 14 people – including high school students (with my son Mateo) and chaperones - on a week-long, self-organized and self-funded trip. We will be helping fix homes, clean up a rainforest trail, and distributing necessary school supplies and clothing. Employees from the local Cisco office will also be joining us on some of the projects (special thanks to Patricia and Eduardo!).
If you are interested in helping, there are a number of ways that you can get involved:
- Techo.org – we will be spending 3-4 days at a small residential town just east of San Juan helping to rebuild homes. Techo.org (www.techo.org/puertorico) is an international non-profit organization that provides emergency housing and helps rebuild for people in need. We will be working (and eating!) together with the residents of the homes we are building. We are collecting funds so that we can buy tools and other equipment needed during the build (all tools and items will be donated upon completion) and we will also make fund contributions to the organization (hand them a check when we show up, or submit it directly to the organization). You can also contribute directly (including for tax purposes) directly through their website (in Spanish). *UPDATE - Techo.org has replaced the prior organization (Hunger Corp) due to scheduling issues - Hunger Corp is still a great grassroots non-profit organization (www.hungercorp.org).
- Corazon de Patria –we are also working with an upstart community service organization, Corazon de Patria (www.facebook.com/corazondepatriapr) – a small group of locals (including Cisco employees) have been collecting and distributing food, diapers, solar lights, and other necessities to a small town that was hit hard by the hurricane and still recovering. They are making personal sacrifices to help an adopted community near the center. We will be bringing school supplies and clothing (see below), and we would also like to make further contributions to the organization (hand them a check when we show up, or send it directly to the organization). *UPDATE - Corazon is formally incorporated with Puerto Rico Department of State, but the 501c3 is still pending (slight misunderstanding - not yet officially issued, but expected soon). If any donor would like to direct their portion to Techo (which is already 501c3 status) for tax purposes, we would be happy to allocate accordingly. We will share all info on donations for full transparency.
- School Supplies / Clothing Drive – we are collecting donated school supplies and clothing to bring with us on the flight. In addition to supporting distribution by Corazon de Patria, we are also in contact with a local school connected through our church that needs supplies and help. If you would like to donate these materials, we still have a little space.
- Direct donations – if you prefer to make a direct donation or support another organization helping with disaster recovery in PR or elsewhere, feel free to donate directly. We recommend Techo.org (link above) or Habitat for Humanity PR (for Cisco employees, Habitat is just becoming eligible for company match).
- Visit! – Puerto Rico is open for visits and nearly all tourist areas are fully recovered. During down-times, we will be taking the students to Old San Juan, El Morro (spanish fort), El Yunque (rainforest), kayak tour of bioluminescent bay, festival of San Juan Bautista, etc! Help support the local economy with an amazing cultural experience!
GO FUND ME -- All proceeds will be given to Techo.org and Corazon de Patria. DEADLINE for contributions is June 11th.
Remember, our student services trip is fully self-funded – therefore 100% of everything that we collect will be given directly to the recipient organizations. In fact, I will personally cover any GoFundMe fees (2.9% payment processing), airline baggage fees (school supplies and clothing), and any other charges so that we can give the organizations the full value of everyone’s contributions. In addition, a portion of all GoFundMe contributions will also be matched by me and members of our group (if you make a direct donation instead, you should check for company matching programs, if eligible).
If you are interested in getting updates on our services project from PR, please send me a note and we will add you to the email distribution and give you access to the webpage.
Thank you,
- James Hackett
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (required by GoFundMe):
- We are a group of California students and adult chaperones doing a personal services trip to Puerto Rico. The funds are NOT for trip expenses, but instead to support the organizations we will be working with.
- We have no relationship with the recipients of the funds - Techo.org and Corazon de Patria - they are helping rebuild PR, and we will be doing portions of our services trip with them, so want to give them funding in addition to our commitment of time and resources. We have no relationship with any of the people (residents of Puerto Rico) who will be the ultimate recipients of funds or services.
- The funds will be withdrawn from the GoFundMe account after the June 11th close date and will be brought with us to PR to be hand-delivered (as a check) to the organizations or sent directly to the organization if hand-delivery is not possible.
. The organizations will spend the funds in accordance with their own charters - helping disaster recovery in Puerto Rico.
Thank you!
-James Hackett
For anyone still giving - we will make sure that your donation is received in full by the noted organizations.
*UPDATED -- added information required by GoFundMe (at bottom), and also updates to the organizations we will be working with.* *6/13/18 -- additional update to the orgs - noted below.
***********************************************
It has been over 8-1/2 months since the Category 5 storm made a direct hit across Puerto Rico last September. While electrical power is restored to most areas, there are still over 14,000 people who have not yet regained electricity, and full black-outs are common. A recent study was published suggesting that the official death toll (originally stated as 64 people) may be severely understated – with several thousand deaths attributable to hurricane-related causes. Also, there are many houses still without roofs and this year’s hurricane season is already underway.
HOW WE CAN ALL HELP
In just a couple of weeks, I will be taking a group of 14 people – including high school students (with my son Mateo) and chaperones - on a week-long, self-organized and self-funded trip. We will be helping fix homes, clean up a rainforest trail, and distributing necessary school supplies and clothing. Employees from the local Cisco office will also be joining us on some of the projects (special thanks to Patricia and Eduardo!).
If you are interested in helping, there are a number of ways that you can get involved:
- Techo.org – we will be spending 3-4 days at a small residential town just east of San Juan helping to rebuild homes. Techo.org (www.techo.org/puertorico) is an international non-profit organization that provides emergency housing and helps rebuild for people in need. We will be working (and eating!) together with the residents of the homes we are building. We are collecting funds so that we can buy tools and other equipment needed during the build (all tools and items will be donated upon completion) and we will also make fund contributions to the organization (hand them a check when we show up, or submit it directly to the organization). You can also contribute directly (including for tax purposes) directly through their website (in Spanish). *UPDATE - Techo.org has replaced the prior organization (Hunger Corp) due to scheduling issues - Hunger Corp is still a great grassroots non-profit organization (www.hungercorp.org).
- Corazon de Patria –we are also working with an upstart community service organization, Corazon de Patria (www.facebook.com/corazondepatriapr) – a small group of locals (including Cisco employees) have been collecting and distributing food, diapers, solar lights, and other necessities to a small town that was hit hard by the hurricane and still recovering. They are making personal sacrifices to help an adopted community near the center. We will be bringing school supplies and clothing (see below), and we would also like to make further contributions to the organization (hand them a check when we show up, or send it directly to the organization). *UPDATE - Corazon is formally incorporated with Puerto Rico Department of State, but the 501c3 is still pending (slight misunderstanding - not yet officially issued, but expected soon). If any donor would like to direct their portion to Techo (which is already 501c3 status) for tax purposes, we would be happy to allocate accordingly. We will share all info on donations for full transparency.
- School Supplies / Clothing Drive – we are collecting donated school supplies and clothing to bring with us on the flight. In addition to supporting distribution by Corazon de Patria, we are also in contact with a local school connected through our church that needs supplies and help. If you would like to donate these materials, we still have a little space.
- Direct donations – if you prefer to make a direct donation or support another organization helping with disaster recovery in PR or elsewhere, feel free to donate directly. We recommend Techo.org (link above) or Habitat for Humanity PR (for Cisco employees, Habitat is just becoming eligible for company match).
- Visit! – Puerto Rico is open for visits and nearly all tourist areas are fully recovered. During down-times, we will be taking the students to Old San Juan, El Morro (spanish fort), El Yunque (rainforest), kayak tour of bioluminescent bay, festival of San Juan Bautista, etc! Help support the local economy with an amazing cultural experience!
GO FUND ME -- All proceeds will be given to Techo.org and Corazon de Patria. DEADLINE for contributions is June 11th.
Remember, our student services trip is fully self-funded – therefore 100% of everything that we collect will be given directly to the recipient organizations. In fact, I will personally cover any GoFundMe fees (2.9% payment processing), airline baggage fees (school supplies and clothing), and any other charges so that we can give the organizations the full value of everyone’s contributions. In addition, a portion of all GoFundMe contributions will also be matched by me and members of our group (if you make a direct donation instead, you should check for company matching programs, if eligible).
If you are interested in getting updates on our services project from PR, please send me a note and we will add you to the email distribution and give you access to the webpage.
Thank you,
- James Hackett
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (required by GoFundMe):
- We are a group of California students and adult chaperones doing a personal services trip to Puerto Rico. The funds are NOT for trip expenses, but instead to support the organizations we will be working with.
- We have no relationship with the recipients of the funds - Techo.org and Corazon de Patria - they are helping rebuild PR, and we will be doing portions of our services trip with them, so want to give them funding in addition to our commitment of time and resources. We have no relationship with any of the people (residents of Puerto Rico) who will be the ultimate recipients of funds or services.
- The funds will be withdrawn from the GoFundMe account after the June 11th close date and will be brought with us to PR to be hand-delivered (as a check) to the organizations or sent directly to the organization if hand-delivery is not possible.
. The organizations will spend the funds in accordance with their own charters - helping disaster recovery in Puerto Rico.
Thank you!
-James Hackett
Organizer
James Hackett
Organizer
San Mateo, CA
