OUR CAMPAIGN
In response to Hurricane Maria, the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago articulated a strategy from the beginning to advance our work under the 3Rs for Puerto Rico: Rescue, Relief, Rebuild campaign. Each element of the campaign has operated out of a framework of solidarity and not charity. Our collective success is evidenced by our community and allies raising funds to send the first plane filled with essential supplies from a stateside community to Puerto Rico five days after Hurricane Maria and bringing 300 people back, distributing thousands of pounds food and supplies through local Puerto Rican businesses and partners, standing up a full-service resource center to welcome displaced individuals and families to Chicago, rebuilding a community center in Loiza in collaboration with the Illinois Institute of Technology, constructing a new home for a displaced family and seeding the development of a Community Hurricane Oasis Center in Comerio, and administering nearly $600K in micro-grants to nearly 50 towns including those affected by earthquakes in 2020.
The Puerto Rican Agenda stands ready to re-energize the 3Rs for Puerto Rico: Rescue, Relief, Rebuild campaign to provide the same form of collective solidarity to our friends and family impacted by Puerto Rico’s current drought and water crisis.
Through this effort, the Agenda is raising funds to purchase pallets of bottled water directly in Puerto Rico and distribute cases to communities with the greatest need. By purchasing water on the island whenever possible, we can respond more efficiently while supporting Puerto Rico’s local economy.
The people of Puerto Rico need our support, and the Puerto Rican Agenda is ready to act.
Donate to the campaign by making an online contribution HERE.
3Rs for Puerto Rico: Rescue, Relief, Rebuild, a fundraising campaign launched by The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago (Agenda), provides immediate relief and meaningful rebuilding efforts for communities affected by natural disasters and emergencies in Puerto Rico since 2017.
The 3R’s for PR campaign initially launched on Friday, September 22, 2017 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, the original non-profit 501c3 fiscal agent of the project, and raised nearly $70,000 that evening. In a period of 48 hours the members of The Agenda assessed the immediate needs on the island, purchased pallets of emergency supplies, secured transportation courtesy of Custom Trucking Company, and loaded the first cargo plane underwritten by United Airlines.
OUR STRATEGY
The Puerto Rican Agenda’s signature strategy includes working closely with Puerto Rican officials and non-profit organizations to purchase and distribute emergency supplies directly from Puerto Rican distributors and issue micro-grants for relief and rebuilding efforts. We apply donations to meaningful and targeted initiatives to immediately address pressing needs on the island.
For the current drought response, our initial priority is purchasing pallets of bottled water in Puerto Rico for distribution to communities experiencing the greatest need.
All efforts are volunteer-run with no individuals receiving monetary gains.
The following action steps developed in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria continue to guide the Agenda’s response to emergencies in Puerto Rico, including the current drought and water crisis:
Secure accurate information about conditions and the needs of affected communities;
Contact established organizations and municipal leadership in Puerto Rico for viable and appropriate avenues to support; and
Articulate clear criteria about selection of donation recipient(s).
The selection criteria for determining entity(ies) receiving funds collected through the Puerto Rican Agenda includes:
1. Communities experiencing the greatest need;
2. Existing relationship with community organizations and/or municipal government;
3. Support local economy; and
4. Residents must directly benefit from funds.
Executive Committee members vet donation inquiries on a rolling basis and award micro-grants that fit the above criteria based on available resources. There is no formal application process to alleviate burden on grant seekers. Grant seekers can submit an inquiry by sending a note to pragendachgo@gmail.com with their request and explain how it fits the above criteria. Grantees agree to submit evidence (i.e. photos, videos, media acknowledgement, etc.) of project implementation.
OUR OUTCOMES
Prior to the earthquakes, The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago (Agenda) delivered nearly $500,000 in emergency supplies and mico-grants directly to 40 municipalities (see map above) in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria in 2017 through 2019.
Within 48 hours of the campaign launch in 2017, members of The Agenda raised nearly $70,000, assessed the immediate needs on the island, purchased pallets of emergency supplies, secured transportation courtesy of Custom Trucking Company, and loaded a cargo plane underwritten by United Airlines.
Supplies arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday, September 25—less than five days after Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island as a Category 5 hurricane. The airplane then turned around and transported 300 evacuees from Puerto Rico multiplying the impact of donors.
Fueled completely by volunteers with contributions from the Puerto Rican diaspora and allies, the grassroots effort was bolstered by the support of civic leaders including Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez and Mayor Rahm Emanuel who coordinated the transportation logistics for the first flight, and Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz who received the shipment for distribution to the hardest hit areas including hospitals and safety centers around the island.
The Agenda continued to expand partnerships and collaborated with New Life Covenant to secure a second airplane loaded with supplies and generators on Wednesday, September 27. The shipment was delivered by a cargo plane underwritten by United Airlines and with the support of Governor Bruce Rauner.
On Thursday, October 19, 2017 the campaign shifted strategy to direct donations for stimulating the local economy. Instead of purchasing pallets in Chicago, The Agenda partnered with Supermercados Econo and Sam’s Club in Puerto Rico to purchase and distribute pallets to some of the hardest-hit towns on the island. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez personally delivered $50,000 worth of emergency supplies to Comerio on October 19 and Loiza on October 20 through working directly with their respective mayors. Additionally, Aibonito and Barranquitas received $30,000 worth of supplies on Saturday, October 21. See our video footage of donation distribution HERE.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ 1: How can I donate to the 3Rs for Puerto Rico campaign?
Answer: You can make an online donation by clicking HERE. Contributions to the current campaign will help the Agenda purchase pallets of bottled water in Puerto Rico for distribution to communities with the greatest need.
FAQ 2: Who can checks be made out to and where can checks be mailed/dropped off ?
Answer:
Checks can be made payable: The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago
Mailing Address:
The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago
2548 W. Division St., 1st. Floor
Chicago, IL 60622
FAQ 3: Are monetary donations tax-deductible?
Answer: Yes, the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago is a 501c3 non-profit organization (Tax ID: 82-2899478) registered in the state of Illinois and the federal government.
FAQ 4: Are you accepting items for donation such as water, diapers, batteries, etc.?
Answer: No, we are currently not accepting material donations for the following reasons:
We do not have the staffing capacity nor space to accept donations.
We want to apply monetary donations towards the greatest impact, most effective use, and in a short time frame by not incurring shipping costs or spending time sorting and packaging supplies.
For the current drought response, we intend to use monetary donations to purchase pallets of bottled water through wholesale outlets and distributors in Puerto Rico, based on the needs of receiving communities. This allows us to avoid unnecessary shipping costs while supporting the Puerto Rican economy.
FAQ 5: How were the items sent to Puerto Rico for the first two flights?
Answer: After purchasing pallets of supplies directly from wholesale outlets, they are transported by trucks underwritten by The Custom Companies, Inc and delivered to O’Hare International Airport for departure on a donated airplane from United Airlines and bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz personally received items and directed them for distribution to shelters, hospitals, and safety centers throughout the island. The first airplane stocked by our campaign returned back to Chicago with 300 passengers who were stranded in Puerto Rico. It was the first flight since Hurricane Maria made landfall to return to Chicago through this effort thus multiplying the impact of each monetary donation.
FAQ 6: Where in Puerto Rico will donations from the current campaign be directed?
Answer: The Agenda is working with community organizations, municipal leadership, and trusted partners in Puerto Rico to identify communities experiencing the greatest water needs.
Funds raised through the current campaign will be used to purchase pallets of bottled water in Puerto Rico and distribute cases based on verified community need and local distribution capacity. Specific communities and distribution efforts will be announced as they are confirmed.
Whenever possible, water will be purchased directly from distributors and retailers in Puerto Rico. This approach allows the campaign to respond more efficiently, reduce transportation and shipping costs, and support the local economy.
Building on the 3Rs model
This approach builds upon the strategy established during the Agenda’s Hurricane Maria response. In October 2017, the campaign shifted from purchasing and shipping pallets from Chicago to purchasing emergency supplies directly in Puerto Rico through local retailers and distributors.
Through partnerships with municipalities, community organizations, elected officials, and local businesses, the 3Rs campaign supported relief and rebuilding efforts in communities throughout Puerto Rico, including Comerío, Loíza, Aibonito, Barranquitas, Jayuya, Bayamón, Caguas, Cayey, San Lorenzo, Vega Alta, Ciales, Dorado, Morovis, Humacao, and others.
The campaign’s past relief efforts included:
Nearly $50,000 in emergency supplies delivered to Comerío and Loíza.
More than $20,000 in supplies distributed in Aibonito and Barranquitas.
$12,500 distributed to support relief efforts in Jayuya, Loíza, and Bayamón.
Micro-grants supporting rebuilding initiatives, schools, elderly care centers, community kitchens, and sustainable-energy projects.
$10,000 in medicine purchased through a Puerto Rico pharmacy for Salud Integral de la Montaña, which serves communities throughout the island’s central region.
Additional grants supporting community organizations and initiatives in municipalities across Puerto Rico.
These experiences established the community-based relief model that continues to guide the 3Rs for Puerto Rico campaign today: identify verified needs, work with trusted local partners, purchase supplies in Puerto Rico whenever possible, and direct resources to communities where they can have the greatest impact.
FAQ 7: How will donations to the current drought campaign be used?
Answer: Donations will initially support the purchase of pallets of bottled water in Puerto Rico for distribution to communities experiencing the greatest need. The Agenda will work with trusted partners and local leadership to identify needs, purchase water through Puerto Rican distributors whenever possible, and coordinate its distribution directly to residents.
FAQ 8: How can I volunteer with the 3Rs for PR campaign?
Answer: Fill out a volunteer inquiry form here to indicate your availability, skills, and interest. You will be contacted on an as-needed basis.
FAQ 9: How do I become involved with The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago?
Answer: Email us at: Rafael.Caro@puertoricanagendachicago.org for the latest campaign updates, invitations to our monthly meetings, events and initiatives.