Puerto Rico GoFundMe: Community Initiatives for Disaster Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico faced unprecedented destruction, leaving many residents without access to basic necessities like food, water, and shelter.

The outpouring of support from the community was overwhelming, with various initiatives springing up to aid in disaster recovery.

One notable example is the Puerto Rico GoFundMe campaign, which raised over $30 million in donations to support relief efforts.

Local organizations and businesses also played a crucial role in mobilizing resources and providing essential services to those in need.

Puerto Rico has been affected by several devastating hurricanes, including Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in 2017 as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155-200 mph.

Hurricane Maria relief efforts have been ongoing, with organizations like Puerto Ricans In Action and the Puerto Rican Science, Technology and Research Institute working to provide aid to affected communities.

Puerto Ricans In Action has been working to bring clean water to individuals in need, with their clean water project called Archipelago aiming to bring clean water to 1200 individuals by sending 700-1000 water filters.

Their partner, the Puerto Rico Brain Trust for Tropical Disease Research and Prevention, is overseeing the distribution and educational programming in remote cities on the island.

In addition to clean water, organizations like Taller Salud have been providing emergency response programs, servicing nearly 8,000 women and their families with hot meals, and over 2000 individuals with medical attention in the first 60 days.

You can donate to verified fundraisers, start a certified charity fundraiser, or start an individual fundraiser for a friend or family member in Puerto Rico.

Here are three fast and safe ways to help:

If you want to help people affected by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, there are several ways to do so. You can donate to a verified fundraiser on GoFundMe, which has a centralized hub for verified fundraisers.

GoFundMe's Trust & Safety team verifies the fundraisers on this hub to ensure they are legitimate and safe. You can also start a certified charity fundraiser for a verified organization that provides critical support to those affected by the hurricane.

If you're fundraising for loved ones in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, you'll need to include specific information in your fundraiser description. This includes who you're raising money for, where they are located, how they will use the funds raised, and how you will deliver funds to them.

To donate, you can choose from a list of verified fundraisers, start a certified charity fundraiser, or start an individual fundraiser for a friend or family member. There are three fast and safe ways to help people in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Here are the steps to start a fundraiser:

Keep in mind that only people in supported countries or territories can start fundraisers for their friends and family members in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic.

The Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Fund is a vital effort to support the island after the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria. Contributions to the fund have allowed for the continued support of programs like Taller Salud's emergency response program, which serviced nearly 8,000 women and their families with hot meals, and over 2,000 individuals with medical attention in the first 60 days.

The Clean Water Project for Puerto Rico, run by the Puerto Rican Science, Technology and Research Institute, has delivered over 5,000 Kohler Filters to families across the island, reaching over 30,000 people since October 2017. Their distribution events are attended by hundreds, and detailed demographic data is collected.

GoFundMe has expanded its services to Puerto Rico to offer a fully localized experience for individuals and nonprofit organizations on the island. This initiative allows users to create fundraisers, accept donations, and withdraw funds directly to their bank accounts.

The Puerto Rico Community Recovery Fund, activated by Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico, supports communities affected by earthquakes and hurricanes. Contributions to this fund can be made via PayPal.

Here are some verified fundraisers for people affected by the Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic hurricane:

These fundraisers have raised significant amounts, with over $50 million raised on GoFundMe for Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico-related causes, including significant contributions following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

If you're looking to help those affected by the hurricane in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, GoFundMe has a centralized hub of verified fundraisers that you can donate to.

You can start by checking out the fundraisers listed on GoFundMe's site. They have a team that verifies the fundraisers to ensure they're safe and legitimate.

To donate, you can choose from one of the verified fundraisers on the hub, which has been vetted by GoFundMe's Trust & Safety team.

If you want to start your own fundraiser, you can start a certified charity fundraiser for a verified organization providing critical support to those affected by the hurricane.

You can also start an individual fundraiser for a friend or family member in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, but you'll need to follow some specific requirements.

To start an individual fundraiser, you'll need to include certain information in your fundraiser description, such as who you're raising money for, where they're located, and how they'll use the funds raised.

Here are the specific requirements:

Keep in mind that if you're fundraising for loved ones in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, GoFundMe's Trust & Safety team will work with you to understand the delivery of funds to your beneficiary.

You can also consider donating to the Hurricane Maria Recovery Fund, which is affiliated with Friends of Puerto Rico and aims to invest 100% of the funds raised in the Island.

If you're looking to donate to Puerto Rico, you can start by checking out the official GoFundMe page for Hurricane Maria relief.

The GoFundMe page has a goal of raising $5 million for relief efforts, and over 100,000 people have already donated.

You can also consider donating to local organizations on the ground in Puerto Rico, such as the Puerto Rico Community Foundation.

This organization has been working tirelessly to provide aid to those affected by the hurricane.

Some other organizations you can consider donating to include the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, which have both been providing critical support to those in need.

Both of these organizations have a long history of providing disaster relief, and they have a strong presence in Puerto Rico.

The Hispanic Federation's "Unidos" page is a crucial resource for those looking to support Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico. The page is a joint effort between the Hispanic Federation and a coalition of community organizations and elected officials.

The proceeds from Lin-Manuel Miranda's new collaborative song/video about Puerto Rico will go directly to this fund. You can listen to or watch the video on YouTube.

You can make a donation to the Hispanic Federation's Unidos Campaign by visiting their website.

Ridge to Reefs (RTR) is an environmental organization that has been working in Puerto Rico for the past 10 years doing watershed restoration and conservation.

RTR is committed to helping local communities with environmental restoration, and they're now providing disaster relief to rural communities in Puerto Rico.

You can support RTR's efforts by making a financial donation to provide support to shelters and rural communities in the south, west, and central regions of the island.

RTR is working with Aqua Mira and Goal Zero to provide water purification systems and portable solar power systems with inverters and batteries to rural communities.

These communities are predicted to be without power for 4-6 months, and RTR's support will be crucial in helping them recover.

You can learn more about RTR's efforts and donate by visiting their website at https://isercaribe.org/ or by checking out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/isercaribe.

Iniciativa Comunitaria is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that united to generate funds for hurricane relief efforts. They focused on bringing food, water, and medicines to affected communities in Loíza, Toa Baja, and San Juan.

You can donate to Iniciativa Comunitaria by visiting their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/iniciativapr. They also accept donations of items, which can be coordinated through their website at http://organizacionboricua.blogspot.com/p/quienes-somos.html.

Local fundraising efforts in Puerto Rico were previously started by individuals or entities based on the U.S. mainland. This meant that funds had to be channeled to beneficiaries on the island.

Funds were then sent to Puerto Rico, which often resulted in delays and inefficiencies. This was especially challenging for those in need of immediate assistance.

Prior to GoFundMe's expansion to Puerto Rico, local fundraising efforts were limited by their reliance on external support. This lack of autonomy hindered the island's ability to respond to its own needs.

The official launch of GoFundMe in Puerto Rico has changed this dynamic, providing 3.1 million American citizens residing on the island with direct access to a fundraising platform.

Iniciativa Comunitaria is a community-driven initiative that's making a real difference in Puerto Rico. They're a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Their Hurricane Maria Relief Campaign aims to bring food, water, and medicines to affected communities in Loíza, Toa Baja, and San Juan. They're working tirelessly to support those in need.

You can donate to Iniciativa Comunitaria's campaign by visiting their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/iniciativapr. You can also donate items to their cause by visiting their website, http://organizacionboricua.blogspot.com/p/quienes-somos.html.

If you're looking to donate, it's essential to note that Iniciativa Comunitaria is a verified organization, which means you can trust that your donation is going directly to those affected by the hurricane.

Here are some ways you can help support Iniciativa Comunitaria's efforts:

By supporting Iniciativa Comunitaria, you're contributing to a community-driven initiative that's making a real difference in the lives of those affected by the hurricane.

Save a Sato is a non-profit organization dedicated to easing the suffering of Puerto Rico's homeless and abused animals.

You can donate to Save a Sato through their Facebook page or by visiting the Island Dog website to make a donation.

Comedores Sociales is a self-managed food distribution initiative of social orientation and activist.

These food kitchens are held in the university campuses of Rio Piedras and Cayey at different times, making access to food a bit more convenient for students and community members.

The Comedores Sociales are organized by the Center for Political, Educational and Cultural development (CDPEC), a non-profit grassroots activist organization.

The initiative is itinerant, with social kitchens being set up in various communities to reach more people in need.

You can donate to support the Comedores Sociales de Puerto Rico, helping to make a difference in the lives of those struggling to access food.

Save a Sato Street Dog is a heart-wrenching issue that requires immediate attention.

Save A Sato is a non-profit organization dedicated to easing the suffering of Puerto Rico's homeless and abused animals.

Their mission is focused on rescuing and rehabilitating these street dogs, often referred to as "Satos."

You can learn more about Save A Sato on their Facebook page.

To make a donation and support their efforts, visit the Island Dog website at http://www.islanddog.org/donate.html.

Second Chance Rescue is a remarkable organization that helps animals in need, as seen in the case of Second Chance Animal Rescue of Puerto Rico. They are actively working to rebuild and transport animals off the island after Hurricane Maria.

Donations are crucial to their efforts, and the organization is grateful for any support they can receive.

Princess Nokia is rallying support for Puerto Rico, a humanitarian crisis affecting 3.5 million people.

She's not alone, as Ricky Martin Foundation is already working on the ground, providing urgently needed food, water, clothing, and medical supplies.

Ricky Martin's donation of $100,000 is already in, and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has also contributed generously.

You can donate to the Ricky Martin Foundation to help make a difference.