 |
A bicyclist rides down a damaged road in Toa Alta, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES |
For those of us watching from afar, the best thing many can do now is to donate. The Center for Public Service here at Tulane (CPS) has put together a comprehensive list of organizations that you can look into in order to aid individuals and organizations as they recover. CPS is also organizing supply drives, alternate break trips, and fundraising efforts. If you are a current Tulane student and interested in volunteering, sign up using this Orgsync form.
Here in New Orleans, the best way I know how to help on the road to recovery is by biking down it, so to speak, so on Sunday we're hosting a charity spin class. Your $40 pass (you can sign up here) goes completely to ConPRmetidos. ConPRmetidos is an organization dedicated to personal, social, and economic development in Puerto Rico. 100% of the proceeds will go to financing need assessments, long term structural repairs, and restoring power for the communities that have the most need at the moment. We did a similar spin class this month to raise funds for EMERGE Houston. You can still donate to that amazing cause here.
ConPRmetidos is an organization that Jorge Nunez Mendez recommended to us. Jorge is one of our admission staff members and is from Puerto Rico. He's got this message for the people of his home:
Hemos estado siguiendo las incidencias del huracán María con mucha angustia. Para mi es mucho más personal porque soy nacido y criado en nuestra isla y mi corazón no había experimentado jamás esta sensación de impotencia. No hay palabras suficientes para describir el amor que sentimos los puertorriqueños por nuestra tierra, y mucho menos para plasmar los sentimientos y pensamientos de toda la comunidad boricua ante los efectos de este fenómeno natural.
Yo sé que ahora mismo sus prioridades son sus comunidades y sus familias. Pero quiero que sepan que estamos con ustedes. Tulane y la ciudad de New Orleans conocen muy bien los efectos que puede tener un huracán en las comunidades que afecta y estamos aquí para lo que nos necesiten. Si hay algo que nos distingue a los puertorriqueños es como nos unimos después de un evento como este. ¡Yo voy a ustedes!
Con Puerto Rico en el alma,
Jorge Núñez Méndez
To anyone on the road to recovery: From all of us here in New Orleans, a city that knows all too well the devastating effects of Mother Nature; we are here for you as you begin your journey back to normalcy. Countless individuals, communities, and schools opened up their hearts and homes to us after Katrina and we'll do all we can to repay that favor in your time of need. We understand your recovery may last long after the headlines fade, but we'll be here to help you along the way. If anything positive can come out of tragedies like this, it's that communities are rebuilt stronger. People emerge tougher and with more pride. They emerge with a greater sense of community.
We know your journey to normalcy may seem lengthy. Perhaps even impossible. The photo at top shows how damaged the physical roads in Puerto Rico are right now. Take it from us; one day, those roads will be paved again, just as they are here in New Orleans. We are here with you on your road to recovery. Your roads may be broken, but soon you will recover. Soon, you'll be stronger than ever.
Advertisement
Dapatkan 3d model untuk keperluan desain hunian kamu...
