The hoard of recent hurricanes have set record breaking and unprecedented flooding throughout the Caribbean and United States, leaving many small islands utterly devastated. As a community filled with boriquas of the diaspora, LESReady! deeply feels for our family in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria brought chaos and devastation to Puerto Rico, which was at one of its weakest states having endured Hurricane Irma just days earlier. Coupled with Puerto Rico’s long recession, and its debt crisis– we must rise to support Puerto Rico.
LESReady! Is a community-centered disaster response group that focuses on the Lower East Side. When Superstorm Sandy hit NYC nearly five years ago, community members, community-based organizations, block and tenant associations banded together to take care of one another. Recognizing the need for more coordination across our community groups in the case of a future disaster, we formed LESReady! the March following Superstorm Sandy.
We remember the support that came far and wide when we were recovering from Sandy.
We remember how low-income communities of color, and those which lie at the margins of our society, were the ones most disparately impacted.
As a long-term community-based recovery group, we know very well that community-based organizations are the first to respond, and perhaps more significantly, will be the last to leave.
For these reasons, it is time that we rise in solidarity of our siblings in the Caribbean. Below, please find suggested places to donate monetarily, a list of local drop-off sites for goods, information on how LESReady! is mobilizing, and our commitment to provide up to date information on how to contact loved ones in Puerto Rico as that information becomes available.
For more information, contact Resiliency Training & Policy Coordinator, Ceci Pineda ceci@goles.org. For links to the recommended donation sites and other websites referred, please visit www.lesready.org
In solidarity,
Ayo Harrington and Victoria Lugo
FINANCIAL DONATIONS
LESReady! would like to highlight two organizations that are currently raising monetary donations to serve those most at the margins:
- The Hispanic Federation Unidos Relief Fund
- Dominica American Relief & Development Association (DARDA) Fundraiser for the Dominica American Relief & Development Association (DARDA)
- Amazon Wishlist for Dominica – Managed by DARDA
HURRICANE RELIEF COLLECTION DRIVES
LES-WIDE COLLECTION DRIVE
LES DROP-OFF SITES FOR PUERTO RICO:
We would like to also highlight on the ground efforts from fellow community members of the Lower East Side that are currently accepting supply donations in the Lower East Side for families in Puerto Rico:
Smith Houses Tenant Association
(Baseball Field – Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place between >>South Street & Pearl Street)
Saturday, September 30 (
Selling food to raise donation funds
Accepting packaged goods / supplies
Good Record
218 E 5th Street
Monday – Friday (12P-8P)
Saturday – Sunday (12P-7P)
For information on contact https://www.sociedad.life/papuertorico
WhyNotCare & Iglesia Evangelica Bautista
Calle 8 Church
393 E 8th Street
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (4:30P – 8:30P)
Collecting: Toiletries, Diapers, new or clean blankets, water, batteries, dry food, etc.
For more information, contact: 646.783.8123
IEBCALLE8@gmail.com
Lilah@whynotcaremore.org
Whynotcarenyc@gmail.com
Engine 28 / Ladder 11
222 East 2nd St (Between B & C)
Monday – Friday (
Collecting: Diapers, baby food, batteries, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products
Organized by NYC Mayor’s Office
Lady Tigers Youth Softball Team
428 E 10th Street
Monday – Thursday (6P-9P)
Collecting: Water, non-perishables, toiletries, diapers, and clothing
Loisaida via Eco-Kit Duffle
Visit https://www.ecokitduffle.org/
Place an order for items on the ‘NEEDS LIST’page. Ship items to our pick up center at Loisaida Center. Sorted items are immediately given to Eco-Kits volunteer travelers. Eco-kits get picked up at airports in Puerto Rico by contacted community coordinators and delivered to grass-roots organizations. (Full list on webpage)
NYC DROP-OFF SITES FOR BARBUDA:
The New York City Consulate of Antigua and Barbuda is currently collecting donations at sites through all boroughs for Barbuda. For more information on the priority items being collected and drop-off sites, visit https://www.abconsulate.nyc/goods
CONTACTING LOVED ONES IN PR:
We are connected to La Red De Apoyo Mutuo a Puerto Rico, a network of individuals and groups throughout the United States that are working on compiling on the ground information. We have expressed the need echoed from fellow community members for information on how to contact loved ones. As we attain more information, we will keep people aware of information on how to contact loved ones as that information emerges.
PUERTO RICO EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS:
For a directory of emergency operation centers in Puerto Rico (in Spanish), please click: http://prfaa.pr.gov/…/uploa…/2017/09/Oficinas-Regionales.pdf
We remember. We rise. We Resist.