The Puerto Rico Community Foundation (PRCF) will be collaborating with the communities impacted by hurricanes Irma and María through our community partners: the community based organizations who are already active and working with the most vulnerable populations, especially elderly and families with infant and children. “We want to help the people that are helping. We want to facilitate the access to medicines, medical equipment, food, water and other essential needs. The organizations are our assessment arm and our intervention arm, they are rooted in these communities.”, mentioned Dr. Nelson I. Colón, President and CEO of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation.
After hurricane Irma impacted Puerto Rico, earlier this month, the Puerto Rico Community Foundation (PRCF) reactivated the Puerto Rico Community Recovery Fund . Since then, we’ve received contributions from San Diego Community Foundation and Community Foundation of New Jersey; and have potential offerings from Knight Foundation, Miami Community Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation and other peer foundations in the US; as well as the support of a solidarity network comprised of: CF Leads, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), Iberoamerican Network of Civic and Community Foundations, Regional Education Lab of the Northeast and Caribbean (RELNEI) and MECA, International Dragon Boat Community, among many others. The Fund becomes more relevant today due to the recent passage of Hurricane María. As in previous occasions that the Fund has been activated, it will be available to receive contributions from other foundations inside and outside of Puerto Rico, corporations and individuals. Contributions can be made through the PayPal account on www.fcpr.org , specifying that it should go to the Recovery Fund.
The Institution is, proactively, approaching organizations in the metro area, but also in areas as far away as Humacao and Yauco to understand the needs of the community and rapidly respond to them. Also, a collaboration was developed with Hogar el Buen Pastor in San Juan to become a collection and distribution center for those donors whose interest is to provide clothing and other necessities. A
collaboration, has also been made, with the Association of Community Pharmacies to provide access to medicines and other medical supplies to the population in need.
Following Hurricane Irma, PRCF rapidly responded to provide the residents of Loíza, an afro-descent population located in the north seacoast, and one the Institution works very closely to, with a power generator for an elderly housing complex; and provided 400 boxes of bottled water, equivalent to 2,000 gallons of water. In addition, food and snacks were provided for the 200 participants of the Loíza’s Boys and Girls Club.
The Puerto Rico Community Recovery Fund has allowed PRCF to participate in the recovery after hurricanes Hortensia and Georges; and after the terrorist attack of September 11, with a direct intervention in New York. Also during the floods of 2008 and the earthquake of Haiti, among others. The financial support is allocated per the needs identified by community organizations, to purchase equipment, food, services clothing for the affected families.
Also, a grant has been to CMTAS, a community based organization in Yauco, to dig a well in their community, to provide access to water to provide for their population. Other organizations interested in following this model, please contact PRCF to connect you with them.
To contribute to the Puerto Rico Community Recovery Fund , you can use the following methods:
- – www.fcpr.org
- – ACH and Wire Transfer (Information will be provided upon request)100% of contributions coming from citizens and families will go to the recovery efforts. For more information, please go to www.fcpr.org or call 787.721.1037.Contact: Mary Ann Gabino September 29, 2017