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 who have been impacted by Hurricane Fiona. Hurricane Fiona dumped more than 21 inches of rain in the last 24 hours in Puerto Rico’s second-largest city, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Flash floods are expected to continue into Tuesday causing millions in damage. The intense rain is overflowing rivers, triggering landslides and destroying homes, roads and bridges. 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.
3R’s 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 those affected by natural disasters 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.
All efforts are volunteer-run with no individuals receiving monetary gains.
The following action steps the Agenda identified in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria are applicable to responding to the earthquakes and include the following:
Secure accurate data on damage as a result of the earthquakes;
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. Hardest hit areas;
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.
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
1650 W. North Ave.
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.
When we do purchase supplies (based on requests from receiving towns), we go directly through wholesale outlets in Puerto Rico to stimulate the 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 the next round of donations be sent?
Answer: The Agenda is in communication with several municipalities in Puerto Rico to assess their ability to receive and distribute supplies. On Thursday, October 19, 2017 the campaign shifted strategy to stimulate 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 nearly $50,000 worth of emergency supplies to Comerio on October 19 and Loiza on October 20 through working directly with their respective mayors. Additionally, through the Agenda’s coordination and partnerships Aibonito and Barranquitas received over $20,000 worth of supplies on Saturday, October 21. Watch the videos of supply distribution in each town here.
On Friday, November 3, 2017 Congressman Gutierrez returned to Puerto Rico to deliver $12,500 in cash raised through the campaign to the towns of Jayuya, Loiza and Bayamon. See his speech to Congress here acknowledging the work of The Agenda and allies who have sent aid to Puerto Ricans on the island.
In early December 2017, a $5,000 micro-grant went to a rebuilding initiative in Caguas: Caguas Renace. Additionally, Congressman Gutierrez made his fourth trip to the island to distribute $15,000 in micro-grants from the campaign to Cayey, San Lorenzo, and Vega Alta. Recipients included municipal and community leaders in each town working to support schools and elderly care centers.
Agenda members carried out various distribution efforts totaling $34,000 in donations in late December and early January 2018:
$10,000 in medicine for Salud Integral de la Montana (SIM), a set of clinics in Puerto Rico that service the towns of Barranquitas, Comerío, Corozal, Naranjito, Orocovis and Toa Alta. They are a Federally Qualified Health Center and the order was fulfilled by a pharmacy in Puerto Rico, Drogeria Betances in Caguas.
Three micro grants ($5,000 each) to Ciales, Dorado, and Morovis for respective Lion’s Club chapters and municipal initiatives to implement sustainable energy initiatives.
A $2,500 micro grant to Proyecto de Apoyo Mutuo en Humacao for their community kitchen. (More here)
Five micro grants (ranging $500-$2,000) to support annual Three Kings Day events that bring small gifts to children for the holiday season in Isabela, Juana Diaz, Maricao, San Sebastian, Sabana Grande, Vieques, and Yauco.
FAQ 7: 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 8: How do I become involved with The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago?
Answer: Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest campaign updates, invitations to our monthly meetings, events and initiatives.