Together Puerto Rico
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Together Puerto Rico is a 501(c)(3) organization started directly after Hurricane Irma when two friends living in Puerto Rico decided to raise money on a GoFundMe page to purchase basic necessities and supplies for people who were displaced from neighboring islands.
Today, we work to get water filters and solar lanterns into the hands of people who need them the most in Puerto Rico.
Our Mission: To provide disaster relief in Puerto Rico via solar lights and water filters, promote sustainability and improve communications between NGOs and volunteers.
UPDATE - MARCH 13, 2020
We are happy to report that we have distributed over 1,500 solar lanterns and 175 water filters! Our team has now been all over Southern and Southwestern Puerto Rico, from Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Adjuntas and Yauco to Mayagüez, Cabo Rojo and Utuado.
Hello, Together Puerto Rico Supporters!
I want to write you and tell you all how much your donations have meant to me and the Puerto Ricans whose lives you have helped improve! We have been working hard to make sure your donations make the most impact possible.
We work to identify the communities with the most need. These are often towns off the beaten track that most relief efforts rarely reach.
A few weeks ago I drove up to Adjuntas with volunteers from the Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron where we met with a representative from the non-profit Endeavors who served as our translator. He is also from Adjuntas and took us to a neighborhood that was in dire need, where no disaster relief teams had yet visited. The people were SO HAPPY to get the water filters. We started delivering them door-to-door, but word on the neighborhood spread quickly and soon we had a group of people so we gave group demonstrations on how the water filters worked. Everyone we spoke to said that their water was bad and they were scared to drink it. While we had enough solar lights, we ran out of the water filters - but not to worry, the Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron was able to go back the next week, taking our water filters with them and reaching the people we missed the first time.
The stories people were telling me were very sad - for example, one woman said that she lives with her husband who has cancer but they are camping outside of their home because they are afraid their house will collapse if there is another quake. She was told by FEMA that her house was fine, but still she has fear and says it has many cracks. She was very humbled and grateful to have the solar lanterns.
I have heard so many stories just like that one. When volunteer TPR Francesca Biundo and I went back to Guánica to distribute supplies, we found people still staying in camps around the neighborhood. A lot of people simply have no place else to go and are not being relocated by the government for one reason or another. Many people had left, many houses in one neighborhood, La Luna, were completely destroyed. A couple of families we spoke with told us that their neighbors had died. One neighbor had a heart attack shortly after the earthquakes. The only family left on that street was a family with a wooden house. They told us to make sure we left before dusk because the neighborhood gets sketchy.
For the future, we are currently working with a school nurse, Kiara Ramirez, in Mayagüez to bring 500 more solar lanterns to the Monserrate Leon de Irizarry Superior high school in the next month. It is terribly sad that just as schools are starting to reopen in Puerto Rico from the earthquake damage, that they are now being closed due to Covid-19. We will keep you updated. We worked with Kiara already, when TPR volunteer Nicole Bernier took 100 solar lanterns to a health fair event in Mayagüez, which Kiara had organized. Nicole also gave a workshop on breathing exercises, which really helps people suffering from PTSD and anxiety.
We are also continuing our work with Sordos Unidos (Deaf Community United), who have been instrumental in helping us identify who needs water filters and solar lanterns. We are happy to have partnered with this community as they really rely on light to be able to communicate with their hands. They are supposed to have an event on March 21st in Añasco that we will attend and distribute 100 more solar lights (pending on Covid-19 and whether they still hold the event.)
Many of the solar lanterns we distribute also have the ability to charge a cell phone through USB. This is very important to be able to charge a cell phone in times of emergency, especially for the deaf community who rely on cell phones to text message/communicate.
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support, donations, shares, likes and birthday fundraisers on Facebook! You really are helping to put a smile on so many faces. The solar lanterns literally make faces light up!!
Also a huge thank you to all of our volunteers and partners, especially Angel Rivera, Jen Crowley, Ivan Ruiz, Nicole Bernier, Simon Mason at Tango Whiskey Squadron, and Adriana Rivera at Sordos Unidos.
Stay safe, everyone. Please wash your hands and practice social distancing. Now is the time to get outside by yourself and enjoy nature. Take a walk and listen to your breath! We don't always need to be touching each other - this is a great time to get in touch with ourselves and our role in the universe. And remember - we are in control of our lives, what we do and don't do has a big impact, larger than what we may ever really know.
You all have had a huge impact on our organization and the lives of Puerto Ricans!!
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more photos and updates!
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
@togetherpuertorico
https://twitter.com/TogetherPR787
We really appreciate your donations and support of our beautiful island - THANK YOU!!! <3
Love to you all!!
Jami
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - FEBRUARY 1, 2020
I am happy to report that in the past few weeks Together Puerto Rico, with our supporters, donors, volunteers and partners - have distributed just shy of 1,000 solar lights (200 of those lights also had USB chargers) and 120 water filters to earthquake victims in the south of Puerto Rico. But there is still much work to be done!!!
We were able to reach so many people and obtain all these life-saving supplies from YOUR support, as well as from a generous donation from Amazon Disaster Relief. We will continue to buy solar lanterns and solar USB chargers and other needed supplies from the donations we have received - PEOPLE ARE SO HAPPY TO GET A SOLAR LIGHT!!! This small gift has a big impact on their life.
We went door-to-door, we went to several make-shift camps in several neighborhoods, and we went to the government run camps. We talked to a lot of people.
What we saw is that many people - thousands - are still sleeping outside of their homes, in their cars or in tents if they are lucky enough to have one. Earthquakes continue to happen daily. Last Saturday, after we had finished distributing solar lights and had sat down to eat some "pinchos" (BBQ chicken on a stick), another 5.0 quake happened. We were outside, but it was scary enough for us all to jump to our feet and look around ... my SUV was rocking back forth dramatically. And I thought to myself, "Wow, I can't imagine living like this day to day and of course I would be terrified to sleep in my home." Even if a person's home suffered no damage, their neighbor's nice concrete house collapsed and it makes them worry the same could happen to them.
A Vietnam Veteran from the U.S. Army told us that this past month has been worse than the year he spent in Vietnam. He said, "at least in the war I had a gun. There is no defense against earthquakes."
So many people have powerful stories. I feel fortunate to be able to talk to people and listen to them, because they really need to be heard and they really appreciate someone asking them how they are coping and feeling. I wish more people were able to go and listen to their stories and sit with them for 15 minutes, because that is the most important part.
As you can imagine with the multiple earthquakes, people are suffering from PTSD. We know our little solar lights can't bring back homes, but they can help people feel a little safer and more secure at night and when they lose power (an ongoing problem).
We could not do this work without so many people helping!! Thank you to all of our partners and volunteers!! In addition to our own distribution efforts in Gaunica, Guayanilla and Ponce, we were able to partner with the following volunteers and organizations:
-- Sordos Unidos (United Deaf Community) and they were instrumental in getting solar lanterns and solar chargers to hearing impaired people living high in the mountain regions. Imagine trying to communicate in the dark when you can't hear! I can't think of any group of people to whom the solar lights and solar chargers are more needed.
-- Our friend and volunteer Marc Bowen and minister at Unitarian Universalist Puerto Rico was able to return to Guanica to deliver more solar lanterns.
-- Our friends Mariangie Rosas and Oscar Ochart from CocoHaus were able to distribute solar lanterns.
-- Our dedicated volunteer, Ivan Ruiz, was able to distribute solar lights and water filters in Peñuelas and Ponce with the help of several nutrition interns.
-- Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron was able to take the supplies high up in the mountains of Yauco in their 4WD Jeep.
-- And a shout out to Krista Noland who is always helping people in need - she took solar chargers/lights to two families who really needed them that were camping outside their home.
If you are interested in learning more about the situation in Puerto Rico, this is a good, recent article - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-ricans-displaced-earthquakes-wait-safe-home-amid-roadblocks-delays-n1120941
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
@togetherpuertorico
https://twitter.com/TogetherPR787
We really appreciate your donations and support of our beautiful island - THANK YOU!!! <3
Jami Broom
Director
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - JANUARY 13, 2020
If it’s not multiple hurricanes, it’s multiple earthquakes! Our beautiful island and its inhabitants need a break!
Most of the serious damage so far has been to the south of the island, although the earthquakes have caused island-wide blackouts and cut off the water supply for several municipalities, including parts of San Juan, the capitol.
On the day after two of the biggest earthquakes that killed one person and left hundreds of homes inhabitable, Together Puerto Rico drove two hours south from San Juan and distributed the 70 solar lanterns we had on hand. It was not enough. We really need all the support we can get right now.
Families are not only without power, but also without shelter. A little light goes a long way.
Please consider a donation to support our efforts . Our organization is entirely run by volunteers only and there is no overhead – all donations go directly to the supplies we purchase wholesale at a nonprofit discounted rate.
An order of 150 solar lanterns arrived today and we will be distributing them this week. We also just ordered 240 more solar lanterns, with donations we received over the weekend.
Thank you everyone for your shares, cares and prayers! We could not do this without your support.
Below are some photos of our day at the coliseum in Guánica, which has become a food distribution site, where many families are sleeping on cots because either their home was destroyed or they fear it will be soon. People are also traumatized from the earth quakes and the after shocks, which are frequent.
THANK YOU!
Jami
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - JUNE 20, 2019
We are pleased to announce our new program "Reenfoque Vital", or 'Vital Focus'. This program is essentially a combination of what we have been doing for nearly two years - delivering Sawyer Point One community water filters and MPowerd Luci Solar lanterns - but with more of an educational component focused on sustainability and eco-friendly ways of obtaining clean water and light. We want people to think beyond plastic water bottles and costly, wasteful batteries for flashlights, etc.
Last week our Team of Volunteers put the filters together (attached to the buckets) and ventured off to Bayamón, Puerto Rico as part of our Reenfoque Vital (Vital Focus) program to distribute water filters and solar lights door-to-door. We spend a good 15 minutes with each family, answering their questions and showing them how to use the filters, what it filters and how to clean it, as well as talking with them about the solar lantern and explaining how it works. These are life saving tools, not just during a hurricane, but now - when people don't trust their water and suffer from frequent blackouts.
Everyone we talked to were very happy to get these life saving devices. Many of the households we visited were worried about another hurricane. (Hurricane season in Puerto Rico is from June 1st to December 1st)
Many people do not trust their tap water to drink and only buy bottled water. In addition, their lights go out frequently.
Our program teaches people about sustainability and more environmentally friendly ways to obtain clean water and use solar power.
Thank you so much to our WONDERFUL volunteers and these AMAZING people who let us in their homes and out of the heat, offering us drinks and letting us play with their puppies.
Thank you so much for your donations and for allowing us to continue this humbling work. As the pictures show, we are all very happy to help out in these communities and to meet these wonderful people.
Follow us on Facebook to stay updated or visit our website:
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
Together Puerto Rico
https://www.togetherpuertorico.com/
Together We Can Do So Much
Happy New Year 2019! / ¡Felíz Año Nuevo!
It is hard to believe that 14 months have passed since two back-to-back hurricanes devastated our beautiful island! For the most part, things are "normal" again and I encourage all of you to come for a visit!! Puerto Ricans are especially hospitable toward tourists.
This is an island that encourages you to get out and explore the many caves, waterfalls, rivers, mountains and forests. Even if you don't like the beach, you will not get bored with zip-lining adventures, paddle boarding in lagoons, salsa dancing, kayaking in three of the very few Bio Bays in the world, and so much more. Of course there is plenty to do on the beach like fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, snorkeling and some of the nicest scuba diving on the island.
Even though things are "normal" for tourism and in many neighborhoods, for those who are elderly, sick or were already poverty stricken and live in poorer neighborhoods, it is unfortunate that "normal" has become living under a blue tarp or not having clean drinking water and still being burdened with black outs frequently. This should not be normal.
It is sad that more is not being done to help people in need, many of which are still living under blue tarps. Although there are groups here helping out, it is not enough. My friends flew in yesterday from Pittsburgh and said they still saw a lot of blue tarps while flying over San Juan.
While our focus has been mainly on water filters and solar lights, one family reached out to us about a new tarp and a roof for their home. The Melendez family is a husband and wife in their 70's and their mentally challenged daughter in her forties. They live in a two story home and the upstairs roof blew off after Hurricane Maria. This caused the upper level to flood and damaged the ceiling of the first level, leaking into the kitchen, ruining all of their appliances. When we visited them a year after the hurricane, they did not have a working refrigerator. They are all diabetic and need their medicine to be refrigerated. They had bought a new stove already but because their kitchen kept flooding (the tarp they had was never installed properly, had holes and was their third tarp), they did not want to buy a new refrigerator. Also, the ceiling was collapsing.
To make a long story short - this kind of work really takes a village. By working with volunteers from Fundación Mochileando, we were able to assess their immediate needs and take action. Volunteers installed a new tarp, which is a very difficult task. The volunteers were all Puerto Rican and very hard-workers who took time out of the lives to help a family in need. The family reported that their kitchen was no longer flooding and Fundación Mochileando also bought them a new refrigerator.
However, a tarp is not a permanent solution. The family made three appeals to FEMA to fund a new roof. FEMA only gave them $400. We attempted to help them with the last FEMA appeal, including letters and phone calls, but the verdict was that no one was living upstairs, so FEMA would not pay for a new roof. Even though the family owns the upstairs, and of course the downstairs depends on whether the upstairs has a roof, FEMA would not budge on their last verdict.
This was disappointing news, but fortunately Fundación Mochileando can get the materials to rebuild a roof AND we connected them with the Rotary Club of San Juan, who has donated $3,000 to Fundación Mochileando for the labor for the roof. We also raised $750 on Facebook to cover costs of repairing the cement. The materials have been ordered and the Melendez family should have a new roof in the next month!!
As for water filters and solar lights (!!) we have been continuing our work with Seimpre Contigo to distribute to several families around the island, including Arecibo, Hatillo, Utuado and San Juan. We also made purchases of dog/cat food and coloring books / crayons for the families with pets and/or kids.
We made another purchase of water filters and solar lights and have 216 solar lights and 160 water filters to distribute for the beginning of 2019. We are currently scoping out areas and community leaders for a distribution day. We have a partnership with Sawyer and MPowerd to get filters and solar lights at a wholesale price.
When we delivered filters a few weeks ago to Barrio Obrero in San Juan, the family said they only drink bottled water because their neighborhood floods often (sometimes up to 3 feet) and they do not trust the water. This neighborhood is known for having flooding and sewer drainage issues.
Going directly to the families' houses over the past few months, we have seen and learned a lot. Most people we visited are elderly, diabetic or physically challenged. The people have been gracious and welcomed us into their homes. They shared their struggles, frustrations and disappointments. It is difficult to watch your neighbor get $10,000 from FEMA for a new roof, when you are denied for no seemingly particular reason. It is difficult to find people to make repairs at reasonable prices, as so many people need roofs and the workers are mostly booked. It is difficult to keep hearing promises of help by nonprofit groups and then never hear from them again. All this while wondering if their water is safe to drink and their electricity keeps going out. But still, these people soldier on and make repairs themselves or take out loans for the repairs. We have visited peoples' homes while they are working on their roofs or having construction done on their homes.
One family we took a water filter was a single Mom with two little kids. The little girl, about 5 years old, was born with her intestines on the outside of her body and can only drink bottled water. The mom lifted the girls' shirt to show us her scars. She said that after Hurricane Maria, they could not find enough bottled water and she was giving the girl juice, but she only wanted water. ;-( The Mom was very happy with the filter and her daughter loved the coloring books we gave her and her brother.
This has been an amazing journey that all of you have made possible. While sad and angered at times, I am so grateful to be able to help where it is needed and provide a little hope and comfort in these tough times. Thank you so much for your contributions and your words of encouragement. It has meant so much to be able to give back to this beautiful island and its wonderful people.
From Together Puerto Rico, we send our deepest gratitude and hope you all have a Happy New Year.
We also want to thank the following volunteers for their time in helping us distribute the filters. Our volunteers have been amazingly helpful and generous with their time. None of this would be possible without them!! Giant thanks to: Angel Rivera, Camila Castro, Zoribel Lopez, Heather Silston, Jen Crowley, Ivan Ruiz. Also a huge thanks to Angela Perozzi Abdullah, Janice Rodriguez, TJ Vetter, Jose Santiago and Aleman for their help in tarping the Melendez family home - this family had a dry Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as a new refrigerator thanks to Fundación Mochileando.
Please follow us on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/) and to stay up-to-date with the progress of the Melendez family, see our Facebook Fundraiser -
Together Puerto Rico
https://www.togetherpuertorico.com/
Together We Can Do So Much
UPDATE: 10/5/2018
We are continuing our work around the island. Currently we are working with Siempre Contigo (which means Always with You) who are organizing our distribution efforts to be directed toward families who have seniors and bedridden people. These families especially need more assistance as medical costs are so high, time so valuable, and people with weaker immune systems need clean water. We will be going door-to-door around the island and into the mountains to distribute the water filters and solar lights and other needed personal items that may be in need, such as adult diapers, soaps, toothbrushes, etc. As always, we will keep you posted!
Together Puerto Rico is now a 501(c)(3) charity, which means your donation is 100% tax deductible.
To date, Together Puerto Rico has purchased and distributed 465 solar lights and 500 water filters, along with other much needed supplies. Thank you, everyone, for keeping people healthy and safe!!!
We are working to get another 500 water filters and 500 more solar lights in the hands of people who need them the most. We need your help to do it!
This campaign is focused on purchasing water filters and solar lights for families in Puerto Rico where the water quality is often poor, gets shut off regularly and there are frequent black outs. When there is no electricity, many of the water supply plants do not have the power to adequately clean the water.
Our goal with this campaign is to keep people safe and healthy and to let these U.S. Citizens know they are not forgotten. We have partnered with Sawyer Products water filter company to buy the high-quality water filters at cost, reducing our expenditures and making your donation go even further. We have also partnered with MPOWERD to buy the Luci Lights at wholesale price.
Water filters and solar lights also help protect the environment by eliminating costly plastic water bottles and disposable batteries.
I live in Puerto Rico and personally act as a volunteer, distributing the supplies on the weekends and getting the word out in my spare time. Your donation means so much! When we distribute the supplies we explain to people how the water filters work, we talk with people and we learn about their lives - how they cope with no water and electricity or how they fear the next hurricane season. I can tell you first-hand how much people appreciate this gift - it really means so much to them, to be able to keep their families healthy and safe and not have to worry so much and to know others care. There is no greater gift than letting people know you care.
I do a happy dance every time a GoFundMe donation comes through!! Your donation to Together Puerto Rico helps a LOT and makes a BIG IMPACT.
To combat not having clean water to drink, eliminate bacterial infections and save lives, I am asking everyone to join and help contribute to this campaign - every bit helps - $5, $10, $25, $100, whatever you can afford. Every amount makes a huge difference!
Or please simply SHARE this information with others! Sharing alone brings in an average of $40!
This statement came from a volunteer who delivered our supplies in October 2017:
"Thanks to your generosity we have been able to give food, clean water, and toiletries to people in need. One woman has a baby and lost her 14 year old to leptospirosis; that water filter was immensely appreciated."
Also visit https://www.togetherpuertorico.com for information about our organization.
TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
Jami Broom & Together Puerto Rico
Because of Hurricane Maria, many Puerto Ricans, especially in the mountainous areas, do not have running water or access to clean drinking water. Several deaths and nearly a hundred cases of leptospirosis, a water-born bacterial disease, have been confirmed.
We are ensuring that people who need it most are receiving water filters which reduce death, illness and bacterial disease, like salmonella and parasites.
UPDATE 12/7/2017
Together Puerto Rico is now on the ground in Puerto Rico and working with Water for Puerto Rico to deliver water filters and other supplies.
I wanted to share with you some photos of my trips over the weekend to Canónovas and Arecibo/Florida, PR.
We took 20 water filters and buckets to a pastor in Canónovas and other supplies that Water for Puerto Rico had received from Oregon for Puerto Rico.
We gave a demonstration on how to use the water filters and the pastor and his family helped us put them together. The next day, the pastor distributed the filters and buckets to people in his community. They were so grateful for the supplies!! They said that no one had been to their street yet - not FEMA, not the electric company and not even the mayor. They had severe damage to their homes, which had a beautiful view of El Yunque, the National rainforest. They showed us video of their two story home being flooded. They had to escape out the back window and up a hill with snakes and centipedes and children on their backs. A true nightmare and they still are without electricity nearly 80 days later. The very next day they sent us photos of the people to whom they distributed the water filters and buckets and other supplies.
The next day (Sunday) we drove out to Florida, a mountainous town outside of Arecibo. People have not had electric there for a very long time! We distributed 35 of the water filters and buckets and gave everyone a demonstration on how to use them. Everyone was grateful for the supplies!
This week we are trying to decide the best place to take the buckets but we are speaking to a woman who knows of 50 cancer patients in need.
Just to let you know, I am not drinking the water in Puerto Rico unless it is filtered and have begun to wash my face only with filtered water, as a strange rash was on my eyes. I thought it was an allergy but other people have reported similar problems. There is still an island wide boil advisory and only half if people have electric. These water filters are really helping people so much and your contribution is saving lives and helping people stay healthy. Please continue to spread the word!! Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to purchase these filters and get them to the people who need them the most!!
Jami
❤️❤️
UPDATE: 10/29/2017
Just an update to let you know what has been happening! Thank you all for the continued support - together we are helping to keep people safe, healthy and alive. Every time one of you shares this campaign with your Facebook contacts, I have at least one donation come in! I am so appreciative that we have crossed over the $4,000 mark!
Together, we have been able to accomplish the following:
After Irma:
- Purchased personal hygiene items and clothing/shoes for evacuees of neighboring islands in Ashford Hospital ($235)
- Purchased and dropped off $700 worth of food, drinks, baby items, and personal hygiene items for evacuees of neighboring islands in Puerto Rico.
After Maria:
- Purchased and distributed 3 multi-gas stoves to families in need ($260)
- Distributed 25 solar lights and other solar supplies and 4 water filters to AIDS patients and health workers in Puerto Rico ($1,250)
- Shipped and distributed 200 Luci solar lights to families in need in a mountainous part of Puerto Rico, via the nonprofit organization Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, PR. ($1,265)
- Shipped and distributed 200 Sawyer personal water filters to families in mountainous regions of Puerto Rico - Aibonito and Aguas Buenas. ($1,920)
- Shipped needed medical supplies to a Doctor's office in PR - gloves, masks, alcohol swabs and water, plus two water filters and two solar panels for charging cell phones. ($160)
Thank you so much for keeping Puerto Rico in your thoughts. Clean water is and will continue to be a problem for the island for a long time to come. Because of so much flooding and devastation of dead animal bodies and the sewage system, the water supply was ruined, dams broken and it is very dangerous to drink the water without boiling it or using a quality, specialized water filter that gets rid of bacteria. People can not boil water since about 90% still do not have power, and even those who do have it, only have it on and off where it goes out for hours or a full day at a time.
Please watch this video from NBC news for more information on the dire situation - https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/puerto-ricans-risk-waterborne-disease-outbreaks-wake-hurricane-maria-n814461
Help spread the word!
UPDATE: 10/18/2017
The priority now is WATER. Half of 3.4 million people do not have ANY water, and there is NO DRINKABLE WATER anywhere on the island. At least 4 people have died from leptospirosis and many more became ill, which is a dangerous bacteria. There are water filters that can get rid of 99.99999% of bacteria, including bacteria that causes leptospirosis.
Watch the video -- this reporter has become a hero for Puerto Ricans.
As heavy rains and poor drainage from the last hurricane are causing additional flooding in Puerto Rico, not much has changed in a month. People are still without power (90% of the island) and half are still without water. People are still seeking missing relatives, have not been able to contact relatives and many people in the mountainous areas have not received any help from mayors or local government or FEMA or anyone. Many private Puerto Rican citizens volunteering on their own are reporting that often when they take food/water/diapers to people in isolated areas that they are the first help those people have received. After nearly a month!!
The only good news is that now that roads are cleared, the United States Post Office, UPS and FedEx are running and at least can deliver to post offices of the major cities and towns.
We have almost met the original goal of $5,000 but I am changing it to $15,000. This is a crucial step and means I WILL NEED YOUR HELP. THIS IS YOUR CAMPAIGN, TOO! PLEASE SHARE MY POSTS AND LET OTHERS KNOW HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IS. If you know me at all, I don't cry wolf unless there is a wolf. I am so grateful to everyone who has donated; you know have no idea how excited I get when I hear my GoFundMe ding because I know what a difference you are making in someone's life.
The local and federal governments are failing its citizens, big time. I could get into the politics of it, but we all pay taxes for a reason and being left to die during a disaster, is not one of those reasons. Private U.S. citizens (like you!) and Puerto Ricans are stepping up to the plate in a major way and providing much needed help.
My plan is to raise money only for the water filters (1,000 of them!) and send them to Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas or another organization called Water for Puerto Rico , which has people on the ground to distribute. I spoke to a company in Tampa - Sawyer - who will sell the water filters at cost to anyone working with disaster stricken populations, that means they will sell them for $9 for a personal water filter and $12 for a filter that attaches to a bucket. They are normally $22.
Here is the info on the filters ...
High performance filter fits in the palm of your hand; weighs just 2 ounces; 0.1 Micron absolute hollow fiber membrane inline filter
Attaches to included drinking pouch, standard disposable water bottles, hydration packs, or use the straw to drink directly from your water source
Removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E.coli; removes 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium
Filter rated up to 100,000 gallons; includes 16-ounce reusable squeeze pouch, 7-inch drinking straw, and cleaning plunger
I am also talking with my doctor who is in Puerto Rico and needs several items for his patients:
- Large gloves
- masks
- IV fluids
- ringers lactate
- alcohol swabs
- solar chargers
- water
If you want to help further please keep donating to the campaign, share the campaign on Facebook/Twitter and tell your family/coworkers/friends. Please. This is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/togetherpuertorico
And just so you know TOGETHER, we were able to send 200 solar lights to Puerto Rico via a Houston to Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, PR. who distributed them to some of the hardest hit areas of PR.
THIS IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN WITHOUT LIGHTS SINCE HURRICANE IRMA HIT 2 MONTHS AGO. YAY!! YOU DID IT!!
____________________________________________________________
UPDATE: 10/2/2017
This Go Fund Me page was created to bring solar light and other survival tools (gas stoves, water filtration systems) to people in Puerto Rico without water or electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
One $40 donation buys a 4-pack of solar lights!
Monster Maria completely decimated the island of 3.4 million people. This GoFundMe was created by Jami Broom, who has called San Juan, Puerto Rico home for the past few years.
Because of YOU, 100 new solar lights are on their way to Puerto Rico!! I found a great partner to work with who is going to fly supplies to a trusted grassroots nonprofit organization in Puerto Rico called Casa Pueblo (casapueblo.org). They will then be able to distribute the solar lights that you helped purchase! The lights are on their way as we speak to Houston, TX and will fly out October 9th!
LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING! Now that we have a trusted partner, let's try to reach that $5,000 goal in the next few days so that we can get even more solar lights in the hands of the people.
I received this message from Angel today ... "People are so grateful for the donations at my work. Thanks so much."
Unfortunately, the problem in Puerto Rico is going to persist for a long time. This hurricane was worse than Katrina, Harvey and Irma combined. There are 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico and the majority have absolutely no lights and will be without lights for months. Let's try to keep people safe and secure by giving them light!
<3 Thank you all so much!!
UPDATE: 9/30/2017
Thank you everyone! I want to let you know that the supplies I took to San Juan have reached the people! I have returned to Tennessee for now ... though I feel an obligation to stay and help physically, given all the circumstances in my life, I will be able to help more from here for now with an internet connection and not in the chaos of trying to find food every day.
The great news is that I was able to distribute two solar panels and solar lights to two people who are out helping others and need to stay in communication. I will explain how the other supplies were distributed below.
First I want to tell you how dire the situation is in Puerto Rico. The island was obliterated. The vegetation is gone ... the rain forest ... it will grow back(?) but for now it is gone. It is extremely depressing to see nothing but brown on such a big island that was once so lush. But worse than this utter destruction of homes and nature, is the worry on the faces of everyone in the street - how will they get their next meal? how will they get gas? will there be enough water? The entire island of 3.5 million people are in "survival mode". Although Puerto Ricans, or Boricuas as they are known by their Taino Indian name, are out helping one another and making the most of a very bad situation, there is a lot of tension and stress and worry of what is to come. People are waiting 4-8 hours in line for gasoline. The grocery stores, if you can find one open also have very long lines. Many people still do not have water. No one has electric. The heat is stifling.
The first person I gave a solar panel to was out rescuing his friend's family from their home with his paddle board - they were stuck - TEN DAYS after Hurricane Maria. He went in and got the family and then went back for a couple suitcases. Many people are still stuck in their homes and have not been able to be reached by their family - by phone or car. Parts of Puerto Rico are very remote and hilly and the relief efforts have been slow and disorganized. People have not been able to communicate. We have not begun to uncover the devastation or the deaths this massacre has caused - and it's possible we never will. We are not hearing much about this on the news, but NBC did a story on a rescue mission here - https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/puerto-rico-family-rescued-by-relative-after-two-weeks-stranded-on-muddy-mountain-1056504387615
The second person I gave a solar panel to - in addition to contributing to this campaign - is also helping people and is the person who distributed the supplies. Angel Rivera, who lives up to his name, works for the Health Department of Puerto Rico, providing services and resources for mainly low-income HIV patients. Because my time in Puerto Rico was so limited (I either had to get out now or who knows when - all other flights were booked) and because communication was so difficult and gasoline so difficult to come by, I would not have been able to get the supplies into the hands of the people most in need without Angel's help.
Even though he was back to work full time at the Health Department, Angel made an effort to drive to my location and collect the supplies, help me sort through them and think about the best way to deliver them and to whom. He had several coworkers who lost everything in the hurricane - one only had a partial roof on her home, one they are still trying to reach. These are people who provide health services to many of the island's lowest income people and need to be able to function and get to work. They were given the gas stoves and other solar lights/panels as well as the water filtration systems. There were several "packs" that were given to people. The rest of the solar lights - about 15 of them - were distributed to the clients that come to the health center - most of whom are HIV patients.
These items are already helping people - I used my Luci Light - the solar blow up light - for the four days I was in Puerto Rico and it was such a blessing. It is very dark on the island and people need light to be safe.
Please see the pictures below Angel sent me from his work where the supplies were mostly distributed. He sent more pictures but this GoFundMe platform only allows me to post three pictures at a time.
Also, with checks in the mail and PayPal donations, we have also reached the halfway point in my original request! I will have another update soon on what I plan to do with the rest of the donations. There are so many options, but I want to make the most of our money.
Thank you all so much - your donation and these supplies have already helped quite a few people.
UPDATE: 9/24/2017
Thank you to everyone who has been asking how they can help and what they can donate to help the people of Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria!
My name is Jami Broom and for the last several years I have called Puerto Rico "home".
Wow. What a crazy month. TWO hurricanes! This has been a very stressing time. Fortunately/Unfortunately I was in the United States when Maria struck Puerto Rico. When I left Puerto Rico for a scheduled trip, I had no idea another hurricane was coming. For several reasons and obligations to other people (and my cat), I have to go back, although I do not plan on staying very long if there is no water or electric, as I realize that I may do more good from here than there.
That said, since I am going, I will be taking supplies down with me. I have spent the last two days gathering supplies - since FEMA and other government agencies already are good at distributing water and food, I thought I would focus on other needed items that help people be safe and in communication, like solar energy and rechargeable batteries. Since I am only one person, I can not take much with me, but have contacted Delta who says they will wave my baggage fees. I bought all the portable solar panels I could find in this region (TN/VA/NC) and also went to Diamond Brand Outdoors, who gave me a 20% discount(!) once I mentioned that I was gathering supplies for Puerto Rico. What a big help that was!
Anyway, I added it up and with the discount, and not including tax and not including supplies I bought for myself, I spent $920.
When I get to Puerto Rico (should be Tuesday!) I will distribute the solar lights, solar battery chargers and panels to people in need.
If anyone wants to help me recover these costs, please and thank you for donating to this page.
ONCE I GET TO PUERTO RICO I will be looking for other opportunities to help the island and distribute solar lights, solar security lights, solar panels and solar battery charges. Small solar panels can help people charge their phones and other USB devices, like flashlights and small fans. Rechargeable batteries by solar energy can be used for battery operated fans, flashlights and radios.
People need to feel safe in their homes and on the streets and be able to communicate. Here is a good opportunity for you to help!
If anyone has any ideas about getting solar panels, solar lights distributed at a discount or getting a shipping container together or other transportation (airplanes?) to get these items to people, please contact me.
Please let's help work Together for Puerto Rico!
ORIGINAL FUNDING REQUEST - IRMA
A couple hospitals in Puerto Rico are taking in people whose lives were devastasted by neighboring islands. These people, children and babies are in need of clothing, blankets, and basic necessities.
One of these hospitals is right down the street from me here in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I plan on purchasing some of these items myself but thought it would be a great opportunity for anyone glued to their tv set watching IRMA about to batter Florida, to feel like they can do something to help. Thank you so much for caring!!
I plan on making the purchases now and delivering the items today, but it would be awesome if others would chip in. Below is a list of items the hospital is saying they need:
Presby Hospital in Condado has received several patients from our neighboring islands affected by hurricane Irma and they need our help. If you would like to help, they are collecting these basic necessity items:
- Men's Clothing 3XL
- Women's Clothing Size S, M y L
- Pijamas
- Toothpaste
- Mouth Wash
- Shower Gel
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Underwear
- Deodorant
- Towels
- Body Lotion
- Hair Accessories (hair brush, comb, headbands, hair clips, etc.)
- Book bags or suitcase
For Babies:
- Diapers
- Baby Bottles
- Wipes
- Desitin o A&D
- Baby Shower Products
- Clothing
- Blankets
- Baby Cloths
Today, we work to get water filters and solar lanterns into the hands of people who need them the most in Puerto Rico.
Our Mission: To provide disaster relief in Puerto Rico via solar lights and water filters, promote sustainability and improve communications between NGOs and volunteers.
UPDATE - MARCH 13, 2020
We are happy to report that we have distributed over 1,500 solar lanterns and 175 water filters! Our team has now been all over Southern and Southwestern Puerto Rico, from Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Adjuntas and Yauco to Mayagüez, Cabo Rojo and Utuado.
Hello, Together Puerto Rico Supporters!
I want to write you and tell you all how much your donations have meant to me and the Puerto Ricans whose lives you have helped improve! We have been working hard to make sure your donations make the most impact possible.
We work to identify the communities with the most need. These are often towns off the beaten track that most relief efforts rarely reach.
A few weeks ago I drove up to Adjuntas with volunteers from the Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron where we met with a representative from the non-profit Endeavors who served as our translator. He is also from Adjuntas and took us to a neighborhood that was in dire need, where no disaster relief teams had yet visited. The people were SO HAPPY to get the water filters. We started delivering them door-to-door, but word on the neighborhood spread quickly and soon we had a group of people so we gave group demonstrations on how the water filters worked. Everyone we spoke to said that their water was bad and they were scared to drink it. While we had enough solar lights, we ran out of the water filters - but not to worry, the Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron was able to go back the next week, taking our water filters with them and reaching the people we missed the first time.
The stories people were telling me were very sad - for example, one woman said that she lives with her husband who has cancer but they are camping outside of their home because they are afraid their house will collapse if there is another quake. She was told by FEMA that her house was fine, but still she has fear and says it has many cracks. She was very humbled and grateful to have the solar lanterns.
I have heard so many stories just like that one. When volunteer TPR Francesca Biundo and I went back to Guánica to distribute supplies, we found people still staying in camps around the neighborhood. A lot of people simply have no place else to go and are not being relocated by the government for one reason or another. Many people had left, many houses in one neighborhood, La Luna, were completely destroyed. A couple of families we spoke with told us that their neighbors had died. One neighbor had a heart attack shortly after the earthquakes. The only family left on that street was a family with a wooden house. They told us to make sure we left before dusk because the neighborhood gets sketchy.
For the future, we are currently working with a school nurse, Kiara Ramirez, in Mayagüez to bring 500 more solar lanterns to the Monserrate Leon de Irizarry Superior high school in the next month. It is terribly sad that just as schools are starting to reopen in Puerto Rico from the earthquake damage, that they are now being closed due to Covid-19. We will keep you updated. We worked with Kiara already, when TPR volunteer Nicole Bernier took 100 solar lanterns to a health fair event in Mayagüez, which Kiara had organized. Nicole also gave a workshop on breathing exercises, which really helps people suffering from PTSD and anxiety.
We are also continuing our work with Sordos Unidos (Deaf Community United), who have been instrumental in helping us identify who needs water filters and solar lanterns. We are happy to have partnered with this community as they really rely on light to be able to communicate with their hands. They are supposed to have an event on March 21st in Añasco that we will attend and distribute 100 more solar lights (pending on Covid-19 and whether they still hold the event.)
Many of the solar lanterns we distribute also have the ability to charge a cell phone through USB. This is very important to be able to charge a cell phone in times of emergency, especially for the deaf community who rely on cell phones to text message/communicate.
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support, donations, shares, likes and birthday fundraisers on Facebook! You really are helping to put a smile on so many faces. The solar lanterns literally make faces light up!!
Also a huge thank you to all of our volunteers and partners, especially Angel Rivera, Jen Crowley, Ivan Ruiz, Nicole Bernier, Simon Mason at Tango Whiskey Squadron, and Adriana Rivera at Sordos Unidos.
Stay safe, everyone. Please wash your hands and practice social distancing. Now is the time to get outside by yourself and enjoy nature. Take a walk and listen to your breath! We don't always need to be touching each other - this is a great time to get in touch with ourselves and our role in the universe. And remember - we are in control of our lives, what we do and don't do has a big impact, larger than what we may ever really know.
You all have had a huge impact on our organization and the lives of Puerto Ricans!!
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more photos and updates!
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
@togetherpuertorico
https://twitter.com/TogetherPR787
We really appreciate your donations and support of our beautiful island - THANK YOU!!! <3
Love to you all!!
Jami
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - FEBRUARY 1, 2020
I am happy to report that in the past few weeks Together Puerto Rico, with our supporters, donors, volunteers and partners - have distributed just shy of 1,000 solar lights (200 of those lights also had USB chargers) and 120 water filters to earthquake victims in the south of Puerto Rico. But there is still much work to be done!!!
We were able to reach so many people and obtain all these life-saving supplies from YOUR support, as well as from a generous donation from Amazon Disaster Relief. We will continue to buy solar lanterns and solar USB chargers and other needed supplies from the donations we have received - PEOPLE ARE SO HAPPY TO GET A SOLAR LIGHT!!! This small gift has a big impact on their life.
We went door-to-door, we went to several make-shift camps in several neighborhoods, and we went to the government run camps. We talked to a lot of people.
What we saw is that many people - thousands - are still sleeping outside of their homes, in their cars or in tents if they are lucky enough to have one. Earthquakes continue to happen daily. Last Saturday, after we had finished distributing solar lights and had sat down to eat some "pinchos" (BBQ chicken on a stick), another 5.0 quake happened. We were outside, but it was scary enough for us all to jump to our feet and look around ... my SUV was rocking back forth dramatically. And I thought to myself, "Wow, I can't imagine living like this day to day and of course I would be terrified to sleep in my home." Even if a person's home suffered no damage, their neighbor's nice concrete house collapsed and it makes them worry the same could happen to them.
A Vietnam Veteran from the U.S. Army told us that this past month has been worse than the year he spent in Vietnam. He said, "at least in the war I had a gun. There is no defense against earthquakes."
So many people have powerful stories. I feel fortunate to be able to talk to people and listen to them, because they really need to be heard and they really appreciate someone asking them how they are coping and feeling. I wish more people were able to go and listen to their stories and sit with them for 15 minutes, because that is the most important part.
As you can imagine with the multiple earthquakes, people are suffering from PTSD. We know our little solar lights can't bring back homes, but they can help people feel a little safer and more secure at night and when they lose power (an ongoing problem).
We could not do this work without so many people helping!! Thank you to all of our partners and volunteers!! In addition to our own distribution efforts in Gaunica, Guayanilla and Ponce, we were able to partner with the following volunteers and organizations:
-- Sordos Unidos (United Deaf Community) and they were instrumental in getting solar lanterns and solar chargers to hearing impaired people living high in the mountain regions. Imagine trying to communicate in the dark when you can't hear! I can't think of any group of people to whom the solar lights and solar chargers are more needed.
-- Our friend and volunteer Marc Bowen and minister at Unitarian Universalist Puerto Rico was able to return to Guanica to deliver more solar lanterns.
-- Our friends Mariangie Rosas and Oscar Ochart from CocoHaus were able to distribute solar lanterns.
-- Our dedicated volunteer, Ivan Ruiz, was able to distribute solar lights and water filters in Peñuelas and Ponce with the help of several nutrition interns.
-- Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron was able to take the supplies high up in the mountains of Yauco in their 4WD Jeep.
-- And a shout out to Krista Noland who is always helping people in need - she took solar chargers/lights to two families who really needed them that were camping outside their home.
If you are interested in learning more about the situation in Puerto Rico, this is a good, recent article - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-ricans-displaced-earthquakes-wait-safe-home-amid-roadblocks-delays-n1120941
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
@togetherpuertorico
https://twitter.com/TogetherPR787
We really appreciate your donations and support of our beautiful island - THANK YOU!!! <3
Jami Broom
Director
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - JANUARY 13, 2020
If it’s not multiple hurricanes, it’s multiple earthquakes! Our beautiful island and its inhabitants need a break!
Most of the serious damage so far has been to the south of the island, although the earthquakes have caused island-wide blackouts and cut off the water supply for several municipalities, including parts of San Juan, the capitol.
On the day after two of the biggest earthquakes that killed one person and left hundreds of homes inhabitable, Together Puerto Rico drove two hours south from San Juan and distributed the 70 solar lanterns we had on hand. It was not enough. We really need all the support we can get right now.
Families are not only without power, but also without shelter. A little light goes a long way.
Please consider a donation to support our efforts . Our organization is entirely run by volunteers only and there is no overhead – all donations go directly to the supplies we purchase wholesale at a nonprofit discounted rate.
An order of 150 solar lanterns arrived today and we will be distributing them this week. We also just ordered 240 more solar lanterns, with donations we received over the weekend.
Thank you everyone for your shares, cares and prayers! We could not do this without your support.
Below are some photos of our day at the coliseum in Guánica, which has become a food distribution site, where many families are sleeping on cots because either their home was destroyed or they fear it will be soon. People are also traumatized from the earth quakes and the after shocks, which are frequent.
THANK YOU!
Jami
Together Puerto Rico
UPDATE - JUNE 20, 2019
We are pleased to announce our new program "Reenfoque Vital", or 'Vital Focus'. This program is essentially a combination of what we have been doing for nearly two years - delivering Sawyer Point One community water filters and MPowerd Luci Solar lanterns - but with more of an educational component focused on sustainability and eco-friendly ways of obtaining clean water and light. We want people to think beyond plastic water bottles and costly, wasteful batteries for flashlights, etc.
Last week our Team of Volunteers put the filters together (attached to the buckets) and ventured off to Bayamón, Puerto Rico as part of our Reenfoque Vital (Vital Focus) program to distribute water filters and solar lights door-to-door. We spend a good 15 minutes with each family, answering their questions and showing them how to use the filters, what it filters and how to clean it, as well as talking with them about the solar lantern and explaining how it works. These are life saving tools, not just during a hurricane, but now - when people don't trust their water and suffer from frequent blackouts.
Everyone we talked to were very happy to get these life saving devices. Many of the households we visited were worried about another hurricane. (Hurricane season in Puerto Rico is from June 1st to December 1st)
Many people do not trust their tap water to drink and only buy bottled water. In addition, their lights go out frequently.
Our program teaches people about sustainability and more environmentally friendly ways to obtain clean water and use solar power.
Thank you so much to our WONDERFUL volunteers and these AMAZING people who let us in their homes and out of the heat, offering us drinks and letting us play with their puppies.
Thank you so much for your donations and for allowing us to continue this humbling work. As the pictures show, we are all very happy to help out in these communities and to meet these wonderful people.
Follow us on Facebook to stay updated or visit our website:
https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/
Together Puerto Rico
https://www.togetherpuertorico.com/
Together We Can Do So Much
Happy New Year 2019! / ¡Felíz Año Nuevo!
It is hard to believe that 14 months have passed since two back-to-back hurricanes devastated our beautiful island! For the most part, things are "normal" again and I encourage all of you to come for a visit!! Puerto Ricans are especially hospitable toward tourists.
This is an island that encourages you to get out and explore the many caves, waterfalls, rivers, mountains and forests. Even if you don't like the beach, you will not get bored with zip-lining adventures, paddle boarding in lagoons, salsa dancing, kayaking in three of the very few Bio Bays in the world, and so much more. Of course there is plenty to do on the beach like fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, snorkeling and some of the nicest scuba diving on the island.
Even though things are "normal" for tourism and in many neighborhoods, for those who are elderly, sick or were already poverty stricken and live in poorer neighborhoods, it is unfortunate that "normal" has become living under a blue tarp or not having clean drinking water and still being burdened with black outs frequently. This should not be normal.
It is sad that more is not being done to help people in need, many of which are still living under blue tarps. Although there are groups here helping out, it is not enough. My friends flew in yesterday from Pittsburgh and said they still saw a lot of blue tarps while flying over San Juan.
While our focus has been mainly on water filters and solar lights, one family reached out to us about a new tarp and a roof for their home. The Melendez family is a husband and wife in their 70's and their mentally challenged daughter in her forties. They live in a two story home and the upstairs roof blew off after Hurricane Maria. This caused the upper level to flood and damaged the ceiling of the first level, leaking into the kitchen, ruining all of their appliances. When we visited them a year after the hurricane, they did not have a working refrigerator. They are all diabetic and need their medicine to be refrigerated. They had bought a new stove already but because their kitchen kept flooding (the tarp they had was never installed properly, had holes and was their third tarp), they did not want to buy a new refrigerator. Also, the ceiling was collapsing.
To make a long story short - this kind of work really takes a village. By working with volunteers from Fundación Mochileando, we were able to assess their immediate needs and take action. Volunteers installed a new tarp, which is a very difficult task. The volunteers were all Puerto Rican and very hard-workers who took time out of the lives to help a family in need. The family reported that their kitchen was no longer flooding and Fundación Mochileando also bought them a new refrigerator.
However, a tarp is not a permanent solution. The family made three appeals to FEMA to fund a new roof. FEMA only gave them $400. We attempted to help them with the last FEMA appeal, including letters and phone calls, but the verdict was that no one was living upstairs, so FEMA would not pay for a new roof. Even though the family owns the upstairs, and of course the downstairs depends on whether the upstairs has a roof, FEMA would not budge on their last verdict.
This was disappointing news, but fortunately Fundación Mochileando can get the materials to rebuild a roof AND we connected them with the Rotary Club of San Juan, who has donated $3,000 to Fundación Mochileando for the labor for the roof. We also raised $750 on Facebook to cover costs of repairing the cement. The materials have been ordered and the Melendez family should have a new roof in the next month!!
As for water filters and solar lights (!!) we have been continuing our work with Seimpre Contigo to distribute to several families around the island, including Arecibo, Hatillo, Utuado and San Juan. We also made purchases of dog/cat food and coloring books / crayons for the families with pets and/or kids.
We made another purchase of water filters and solar lights and have 216 solar lights and 160 water filters to distribute for the beginning of 2019. We are currently scoping out areas and community leaders for a distribution day. We have a partnership with Sawyer and MPowerd to get filters and solar lights at a wholesale price.
When we delivered filters a few weeks ago to Barrio Obrero in San Juan, the family said they only drink bottled water because their neighborhood floods often (sometimes up to 3 feet) and they do not trust the water. This neighborhood is known for having flooding and sewer drainage issues.
Going directly to the families' houses over the past few months, we have seen and learned a lot. Most people we visited are elderly, diabetic or physically challenged. The people have been gracious and welcomed us into their homes. They shared their struggles, frustrations and disappointments. It is difficult to watch your neighbor get $10,000 from FEMA for a new roof, when you are denied for no seemingly particular reason. It is difficult to find people to make repairs at reasonable prices, as so many people need roofs and the workers are mostly booked. It is difficult to keep hearing promises of help by nonprofit groups and then never hear from them again. All this while wondering if their water is safe to drink and their electricity keeps going out. But still, these people soldier on and make repairs themselves or take out loans for the repairs. We have visited peoples' homes while they are working on their roofs or having construction done on their homes.
One family we took a water filter was a single Mom with two little kids. The little girl, about 5 years old, was born with her intestines on the outside of her body and can only drink bottled water. The mom lifted the girls' shirt to show us her scars. She said that after Hurricane Maria, they could not find enough bottled water and she was giving the girl juice, but she only wanted water. ;-( The Mom was very happy with the filter and her daughter loved the coloring books we gave her and her brother.
This has been an amazing journey that all of you have made possible. While sad and angered at times, I am so grateful to be able to help where it is needed and provide a little hope and comfort in these tough times. Thank you so much for your contributions and your words of encouragement. It has meant so much to be able to give back to this beautiful island and its wonderful people.
From Together Puerto Rico, we send our deepest gratitude and hope you all have a Happy New Year.
We also want to thank the following volunteers for their time in helping us distribute the filters. Our volunteers have been amazingly helpful and generous with their time. None of this would be possible without them!! Giant thanks to: Angel Rivera, Camila Castro, Zoribel Lopez, Heather Silston, Jen Crowley, Ivan Ruiz. Also a huge thanks to Angela Perozzi Abdullah, Janice Rodriguez, TJ Vetter, Jose Santiago and Aleman for their help in tarping the Melendez family home - this family had a dry Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as a new refrigerator thanks to Fundación Mochileando.
Please follow us on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/togetherpuertorico/) and to stay up-to-date with the progress of the Melendez family, see our Facebook Fundraiser -
Together Puerto Rico
https://www.togetherpuertorico.com/
Together We Can Do So Much
UPDATE: 10/5/2018
We are continuing our work around the island. Currently we are working with Siempre Contigo (which means Always with You) who are organizing our distribution efforts to be directed toward families who have seniors and bedridden people. These families especially need more assistance as medical costs are so high, time so valuable, and people with weaker immune systems need clean water. We will be going door-to-door around the island and into the mountains to distribute the water filters and solar lights and other needed personal items that may be in need, such as adult diapers, soaps, toothbrushes, etc. As always, we will keep you posted!
Together Puerto Rico is now a 501(c)(3) charity, which means your donation is 100% tax deductible.
To date, Together Puerto Rico has purchased and distributed 465 solar lights and 500 water filters, along with other much needed supplies. Thank you, everyone, for keeping people healthy and safe!!!
We are working to get another 500 water filters and 500 more solar lights in the hands of people who need them the most. We need your help to do it!
This campaign is focused on purchasing water filters and solar lights for families in Puerto Rico where the water quality is often poor, gets shut off regularly and there are frequent black outs. When there is no electricity, many of the water supply plants do not have the power to adequately clean the water.
Our goal with this campaign is to keep people safe and healthy and to let these U.S. Citizens know they are not forgotten. We have partnered with Sawyer Products water filter company to buy the high-quality water filters at cost, reducing our expenditures and making your donation go even further. We have also partnered with MPOWERD to buy the Luci Lights at wholesale price.
Water filters and solar lights also help protect the environment by eliminating costly plastic water bottles and disposable batteries.
I live in Puerto Rico and personally act as a volunteer, distributing the supplies on the weekends and getting the word out in my spare time. Your donation means so much! When we distribute the supplies we explain to people how the water filters work, we talk with people and we learn about their lives - how they cope with no water and electricity or how they fear the next hurricane season. I can tell you first-hand how much people appreciate this gift - it really means so much to them, to be able to keep their families healthy and safe and not have to worry so much and to know others care. There is no greater gift than letting people know you care.
I do a happy dance every time a GoFundMe donation comes through!! Your donation to Together Puerto Rico helps a LOT and makes a BIG IMPACT.
To combat not having clean water to drink, eliminate bacterial infections and save lives, I am asking everyone to join and help contribute to this campaign - every bit helps - $5, $10, $25, $100, whatever you can afford. Every amount makes a huge difference!
Or please simply SHARE this information with others! Sharing alone brings in an average of $40!
This statement came from a volunteer who delivered our supplies in October 2017:
"Thanks to your generosity we have been able to give food, clean water, and toiletries to people in need. One woman has a baby and lost her 14 year old to leptospirosis; that water filter was immensely appreciated."
Also visit https://www.togetherpuertorico.com for information about our organization.
TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
Jami Broom & Together Puerto Rico
Because of Hurricane Maria, many Puerto Ricans, especially in the mountainous areas, do not have running water or access to clean drinking water. Several deaths and nearly a hundred cases of leptospirosis, a water-born bacterial disease, have been confirmed.
We are ensuring that people who need it most are receiving water filters which reduce death, illness and bacterial disease, like salmonella and parasites.
UPDATE 12/7/2017
Together Puerto Rico is now on the ground in Puerto Rico and working with Water for Puerto Rico to deliver water filters and other supplies.
I wanted to share with you some photos of my trips over the weekend to Canónovas and Arecibo/Florida, PR.
We took 20 water filters and buckets to a pastor in Canónovas and other supplies that Water for Puerto Rico had received from Oregon for Puerto Rico.
We gave a demonstration on how to use the water filters and the pastor and his family helped us put them together. The next day, the pastor distributed the filters and buckets to people in his community. They were so grateful for the supplies!! They said that no one had been to their street yet - not FEMA, not the electric company and not even the mayor. They had severe damage to their homes, which had a beautiful view of El Yunque, the National rainforest. They showed us video of their two story home being flooded. They had to escape out the back window and up a hill with snakes and centipedes and children on their backs. A true nightmare and they still are without electricity nearly 80 days later. The very next day they sent us photos of the people to whom they distributed the water filters and buckets and other supplies.
The next day (Sunday) we drove out to Florida, a mountainous town outside of Arecibo. People have not had electric there for a very long time! We distributed 35 of the water filters and buckets and gave everyone a demonstration on how to use them. Everyone was grateful for the supplies!
This week we are trying to decide the best place to take the buckets but we are speaking to a woman who knows of 50 cancer patients in need.
Just to let you know, I am not drinking the water in Puerto Rico unless it is filtered and have begun to wash my face only with filtered water, as a strange rash was on my eyes. I thought it was an allergy but other people have reported similar problems. There is still an island wide boil advisory and only half if people have electric. These water filters are really helping people so much and your contribution is saving lives and helping people stay healthy. Please continue to spread the word!! Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to purchase these filters and get them to the people who need them the most!!
Jami
❤️❤️
UPDATE: 10/29/2017
Just an update to let you know what has been happening! Thank you all for the continued support - together we are helping to keep people safe, healthy and alive. Every time one of you shares this campaign with your Facebook contacts, I have at least one donation come in! I am so appreciative that we have crossed over the $4,000 mark!
Together, we have been able to accomplish the following:
After Irma:
- Purchased personal hygiene items and clothing/shoes for evacuees of neighboring islands in Ashford Hospital ($235)
- Purchased and dropped off $700 worth of food, drinks, baby items, and personal hygiene items for evacuees of neighboring islands in Puerto Rico.
After Maria:
- Purchased and distributed 3 multi-gas stoves to families in need ($260)
- Distributed 25 solar lights and other solar supplies and 4 water filters to AIDS patients and health workers in Puerto Rico ($1,250)
- Shipped and distributed 200 Luci solar lights to families in need in a mountainous part of Puerto Rico, via the nonprofit organization Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, PR. ($1,265)
- Shipped and distributed 200 Sawyer personal water filters to families in mountainous regions of Puerto Rico - Aibonito and Aguas Buenas. ($1,920)
- Shipped needed medical supplies to a Doctor's office in PR - gloves, masks, alcohol swabs and water, plus two water filters and two solar panels for charging cell phones. ($160)
Thank you so much for keeping Puerto Rico in your thoughts. Clean water is and will continue to be a problem for the island for a long time to come. Because of so much flooding and devastation of dead animal bodies and the sewage system, the water supply was ruined, dams broken and it is very dangerous to drink the water without boiling it or using a quality, specialized water filter that gets rid of bacteria. People can not boil water since about 90% still do not have power, and even those who do have it, only have it on and off where it goes out for hours or a full day at a time.
Please watch this video from NBC news for more information on the dire situation - https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/puerto-ricans-risk-waterborne-disease-outbreaks-wake-hurricane-maria-n814461
Help spread the word!
UPDATE: 10/18/2017
The priority now is WATER. Half of 3.4 million people do not have ANY water, and there is NO DRINKABLE WATER anywhere on the island. At least 4 people have died from leptospirosis and many more became ill, which is a dangerous bacteria. There are water filters that can get rid of 99.99999% of bacteria, including bacteria that causes leptospirosis.
Watch the video -- this reporter has become a hero for Puerto Ricans.
As heavy rains and poor drainage from the last hurricane are causing additional flooding in Puerto Rico, not much has changed in a month. People are still without power (90% of the island) and half are still without water. People are still seeking missing relatives, have not been able to contact relatives and many people in the mountainous areas have not received any help from mayors or local government or FEMA or anyone. Many private Puerto Rican citizens volunteering on their own are reporting that often when they take food/water/diapers to people in isolated areas that they are the first help those people have received. After nearly a month!!
The only good news is that now that roads are cleared, the United States Post Office, UPS and FedEx are running and at least can deliver to post offices of the major cities and towns.
We have almost met the original goal of $5,000 but I am changing it to $15,000. This is a crucial step and means I WILL NEED YOUR HELP. THIS IS YOUR CAMPAIGN, TOO! PLEASE SHARE MY POSTS AND LET OTHERS KNOW HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IS. If you know me at all, I don't cry wolf unless there is a wolf. I am so grateful to everyone who has donated; you know have no idea how excited I get when I hear my GoFundMe ding because I know what a difference you are making in someone's life.
The local and federal governments are failing its citizens, big time. I could get into the politics of it, but we all pay taxes for a reason and being left to die during a disaster, is not one of those reasons. Private U.S. citizens (like you!) and Puerto Ricans are stepping up to the plate in a major way and providing much needed help.
My plan is to raise money only for the water filters (1,000 of them!) and send them to Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas or another organization called Water for Puerto Rico , which has people on the ground to distribute. I spoke to a company in Tampa - Sawyer - who will sell the water filters at cost to anyone working with disaster stricken populations, that means they will sell them for $9 for a personal water filter and $12 for a filter that attaches to a bucket. They are normally $22.
Here is the info on the filters ...
High performance filter fits in the palm of your hand; weighs just 2 ounces; 0.1 Micron absolute hollow fiber membrane inline filter
Attaches to included drinking pouch, standard disposable water bottles, hydration packs, or use the straw to drink directly from your water source
Removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E.coli; removes 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium
Filter rated up to 100,000 gallons; includes 16-ounce reusable squeeze pouch, 7-inch drinking straw, and cleaning plunger
I am also talking with my doctor who is in Puerto Rico and needs several items for his patients:
- Large gloves
- masks
- IV fluids
- ringers lactate
- alcohol swabs
- solar chargers
- water
If you want to help further please keep donating to the campaign, share the campaign on Facebook/Twitter and tell your family/coworkers/friends. Please. This is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/togetherpuertorico
And just so you know TOGETHER, we were able to send 200 solar lights to Puerto Rico via a Houston to Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, PR. who distributed them to some of the hardest hit areas of PR.
THIS IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN WITHOUT LIGHTS SINCE HURRICANE IRMA HIT 2 MONTHS AGO. YAY!! YOU DID IT!!
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UPDATE: 10/2/2017
This Go Fund Me page was created to bring solar light and other survival tools (gas stoves, water filtration systems) to people in Puerto Rico without water or electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
One $40 donation buys a 4-pack of solar lights!
Monster Maria completely decimated the island of 3.4 million people. This GoFundMe was created by Jami Broom, who has called San Juan, Puerto Rico home for the past few years.
Because of YOU, 100 new solar lights are on their way to Puerto Rico!! I found a great partner to work with who is going to fly supplies to a trusted grassroots nonprofit organization in Puerto Rico called Casa Pueblo (casapueblo.org). They will then be able to distribute the solar lights that you helped purchase! The lights are on their way as we speak to Houston, TX and will fly out October 9th!
LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING! Now that we have a trusted partner, let's try to reach that $5,000 goal in the next few days so that we can get even more solar lights in the hands of the people.
I received this message from Angel today ... "People are so grateful for the donations at my work. Thanks so much."
Unfortunately, the problem in Puerto Rico is going to persist for a long time. This hurricane was worse than Katrina, Harvey and Irma combined. There are 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico and the majority have absolutely no lights and will be without lights for months. Let's try to keep people safe and secure by giving them light!
<3 Thank you all so much!!
UPDATE: 9/30/2017
Thank you everyone! I want to let you know that the supplies I took to San Juan have reached the people! I have returned to Tennessee for now ... though I feel an obligation to stay and help physically, given all the circumstances in my life, I will be able to help more from here for now with an internet connection and not in the chaos of trying to find food every day.
The great news is that I was able to distribute two solar panels and solar lights to two people who are out helping others and need to stay in communication. I will explain how the other supplies were distributed below.
First I want to tell you how dire the situation is in Puerto Rico. The island was obliterated. The vegetation is gone ... the rain forest ... it will grow back(?) but for now it is gone. It is extremely depressing to see nothing but brown on such a big island that was once so lush. But worse than this utter destruction of homes and nature, is the worry on the faces of everyone in the street - how will they get their next meal? how will they get gas? will there be enough water? The entire island of 3.5 million people are in "survival mode". Although Puerto Ricans, or Boricuas as they are known by their Taino Indian name, are out helping one another and making the most of a very bad situation, there is a lot of tension and stress and worry of what is to come. People are waiting 4-8 hours in line for gasoline. The grocery stores, if you can find one open also have very long lines. Many people still do not have water. No one has electric. The heat is stifling.
The first person I gave a solar panel to was out rescuing his friend's family from their home with his paddle board - they were stuck - TEN DAYS after Hurricane Maria. He went in and got the family and then went back for a couple suitcases. Many people are still stuck in their homes and have not been able to be reached by their family - by phone or car. Parts of Puerto Rico are very remote and hilly and the relief efforts have been slow and disorganized. People have not been able to communicate. We have not begun to uncover the devastation or the deaths this massacre has caused - and it's possible we never will. We are not hearing much about this on the news, but NBC did a story on a rescue mission here - https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/puerto-rico-family-rescued-by-relative-after-two-weeks-stranded-on-muddy-mountain-1056504387615
The second person I gave a solar panel to - in addition to contributing to this campaign - is also helping people and is the person who distributed the supplies. Angel Rivera, who lives up to his name, works for the Health Department of Puerto Rico, providing services and resources for mainly low-income HIV patients. Because my time in Puerto Rico was so limited (I either had to get out now or who knows when - all other flights were booked) and because communication was so difficult and gasoline so difficult to come by, I would not have been able to get the supplies into the hands of the people most in need without Angel's help.
Even though he was back to work full time at the Health Department, Angel made an effort to drive to my location and collect the supplies, help me sort through them and think about the best way to deliver them and to whom. He had several coworkers who lost everything in the hurricane - one only had a partial roof on her home, one they are still trying to reach. These are people who provide health services to many of the island's lowest income people and need to be able to function and get to work. They were given the gas stoves and other solar lights/panels as well as the water filtration systems. There were several "packs" that were given to people. The rest of the solar lights - about 15 of them - were distributed to the clients that come to the health center - most of whom are HIV patients.
These items are already helping people - I used my Luci Light - the solar blow up light - for the four days I was in Puerto Rico and it was such a blessing. It is very dark on the island and people need light to be safe.
Please see the pictures below Angel sent me from his work where the supplies were mostly distributed. He sent more pictures but this GoFundMe platform only allows me to post three pictures at a time.
Also, with checks in the mail and PayPal donations, we have also reached the halfway point in my original request! I will have another update soon on what I plan to do with the rest of the donations. There are so many options, but I want to make the most of our money.
Thank you all so much - your donation and these supplies have already helped quite a few people.
UPDATE: 9/24/2017
Thank you to everyone who has been asking how they can help and what they can donate to help the people of Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria!
My name is Jami Broom and for the last several years I have called Puerto Rico "home".
Wow. What a crazy month. TWO hurricanes! This has been a very stressing time. Fortunately/Unfortunately I was in the United States when Maria struck Puerto Rico. When I left Puerto Rico for a scheduled trip, I had no idea another hurricane was coming. For several reasons and obligations to other people (and my cat), I have to go back, although I do not plan on staying very long if there is no water or electric, as I realize that I may do more good from here than there.
That said, since I am going, I will be taking supplies down with me. I have spent the last two days gathering supplies - since FEMA and other government agencies already are good at distributing water and food, I thought I would focus on other needed items that help people be safe and in communication, like solar energy and rechargeable batteries. Since I am only one person, I can not take much with me, but have contacted Delta who says they will wave my baggage fees. I bought all the portable solar panels I could find in this region (TN/VA/NC) and also went to Diamond Brand Outdoors, who gave me a 20% discount(!) once I mentioned that I was gathering supplies for Puerto Rico. What a big help that was!
Anyway, I added it up and with the discount, and not including tax and not including supplies I bought for myself, I spent $920.
When I get to Puerto Rico (should be Tuesday!) I will distribute the solar lights, solar battery chargers and panels to people in need.
If anyone wants to help me recover these costs, please and thank you for donating to this page.
ONCE I GET TO PUERTO RICO I will be looking for other opportunities to help the island and distribute solar lights, solar security lights, solar panels and solar battery charges. Small solar panels can help people charge their phones and other USB devices, like flashlights and small fans. Rechargeable batteries by solar energy can be used for battery operated fans, flashlights and radios.
People need to feel safe in their homes and on the streets and be able to communicate. Here is a good opportunity for you to help!
If anyone has any ideas about getting solar panels, solar lights distributed at a discount or getting a shipping container together or other transportation (airplanes?) to get these items to people, please contact me.
Please let's help work Together for Puerto Rico!
ORIGINAL FUNDING REQUEST - IRMA
A couple hospitals in Puerto Rico are taking in people whose lives were devastasted by neighboring islands. These people, children and babies are in need of clothing, blankets, and basic necessities.
One of these hospitals is right down the street from me here in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I plan on purchasing some of these items myself but thought it would be a great opportunity for anyone glued to their tv set watching IRMA about to batter Florida, to feel like they can do something to help. Thank you so much for caring!!
I plan on making the purchases now and delivering the items today, but it would be awesome if others would chip in. Below is a list of items the hospital is saying they need:
Presby Hospital in Condado has received several patients from our neighboring islands affected by hurricane Irma and they need our help. If you would like to help, they are collecting these basic necessity items:
- Men's Clothing 3XL
- Women's Clothing Size S, M y L
- Pijamas
- Toothpaste
- Mouth Wash
- Shower Gel
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Underwear
- Deodorant
- Towels
- Body Lotion
- Hair Accessories (hair brush, comb, headbands, hair clips, etc.)
- Book bags or suitcase
For Babies:
- Diapers
- Baby Bottles
- Wipes
- Desitin o A&D
- Baby Shower Products
- Clothing
- Blankets
- Baby Cloths
Organizer
Jami Broom
Organizer
San Juan, San Juan