No More Blue Tarps!
Donation protected
UPDATED: STORY AND PHOTOS
When we met 74-year old José, he was still without power, running water, and with a blue tarp for a roof. After so many generous donations and a lot of elbow grease, Don José has, not only a new roof, but a kerosene stove, running water, a nurse and social worker checking in on him once a week, a clean home with debris-free yard, and basic furniture.
Unfortunately, there are still about a thousand people in Puerto Rico still without power, and so many still living under blue tarps. With that said, we will be continuing to support José AND will also be expanding our support to the many others in his community who are still suffering the effects post-Maria. We have increased our financial goal so we can provide others in his community who have been overlooked by government agencies with roofs and other basic needs.
If you’ve flown into Puerto Rico lately, you can see the sea of blue from the air…and I don’t mean the Caribbean. The beautiful Caribbean Sea should be the ONLY blue you can see flying into San Juan—NO MORE BLUE TARPS. Let’s help our fellow American citizens and humans get real roofs over their heads.
All Transformation Pictures
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ORIGINAL STORY:
In late June, I met 74-year old Don José while delivering meals with World Central Kitchen in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ten months after Hurricane Maria, José, like thousands of others, remains without power and with only a blue tarp for a roof. With an average of 55 inches of rain per year, a blue tarp is not an acceptable substitute for a roof, and José has been catching the rainwater that leaks through his tarp with coolers, buckets, whatever receptacle he can find. All of the rainwater has made these containers very heavy, and at 74 years old, he isn't always able to lift them for emptying, so he ends up with containers of still water all through his home. The situation is even more dire with the tropical storm hitting Puerto Rico this week, causing flash flooding.
José has been very inventive and entrepreneurial, using a hubcap with a fire underneath for cooking and collecting cans to take to the recycling center for money to help with his home. Unfortunately, he has no way of getting the cans he has collected to the recycling center.
I'm working directly with contacts in San Juan to help turn Don José's current situation around.
By donating, you'll help with:
1) Construction and materials for José's new metal or concrete roof
2) Providing him with nutritious, hot meals
3) Home clean up/restoration
If you have a little extra to give, no amount is too small. Please consider donating.
Don José, pleased with the outcome!
BEFORE: Kitchen
AFTER: Kitchen
BEFORE: Outside
AFTER: Outside
When we met 74-year old José, he was still without power, running water, and with a blue tarp for a roof. After so many generous donations and a lot of elbow grease, Don José has, not only a new roof, but a kerosene stove, running water, a nurse and social worker checking in on him once a week, a clean home with debris-free yard, and basic furniture.
Unfortunately, there are still about a thousand people in Puerto Rico still without power, and so many still living under blue tarps. With that said, we will be continuing to support José AND will also be expanding our support to the many others in his community who are still suffering the effects post-Maria. We have increased our financial goal so we can provide others in his community who have been overlooked by government agencies with roofs and other basic needs.
If you’ve flown into Puerto Rico lately, you can see the sea of blue from the air…and I don’t mean the Caribbean. The beautiful Caribbean Sea should be the ONLY blue you can see flying into San Juan—NO MORE BLUE TARPS. Let’s help our fellow American citizens and humans get real roofs over their heads.
All Transformation Pictures
------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL STORY:
In late June, I met 74-year old Don José while delivering meals with World Central Kitchen in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ten months after Hurricane Maria, José, like thousands of others, remains without power and with only a blue tarp for a roof. With an average of 55 inches of rain per year, a blue tarp is not an acceptable substitute for a roof, and José has been catching the rainwater that leaks through his tarp with coolers, buckets, whatever receptacle he can find. All of the rainwater has made these containers very heavy, and at 74 years old, he isn't always able to lift them for emptying, so he ends up with containers of still water all through his home. The situation is even more dire with the tropical storm hitting Puerto Rico this week, causing flash flooding.
José has been very inventive and entrepreneurial, using a hubcap with a fire underneath for cooking and collecting cans to take to the recycling center for money to help with his home. Unfortunately, he has no way of getting the cans he has collected to the recycling center.
I'm working directly with contacts in San Juan to help turn Don José's current situation around.
By donating, you'll help with:
1) Construction and materials for José's new metal or concrete roof
2) Providing him with nutritious, hot meals
3) Home clean up/restoration
If you have a little extra to give, no amount is too small. Please consider donating.
Don José, pleased with the outcome!
BEFORE: Kitchen
AFTER: Kitchen
BEFORE: Outside
AFTER: OutsideOrganizer
Brittany Wilson
Organizer
Woodlawn, VA