Earthquake Relief Drive for Borikén

(Puerto Rico)

ITHACA, NY & SURROUNDING–Since December 28th, there have been continuous earthquakes in Borikén, at least 60 of them have been felt, with the most powerful registering at 6.4-magnitude on January 7th. The island has not yet recovered from the damage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Recently, it has also been discovered that FEMA had kept emergency relief items from Hurricane Maria in warehouses throughout the island, never distributed to the people. Now more than ever grassroots organizing is necessary for the well-being of the people on the island of Borikén.

Borikén is still a colony of the United States, and the current administration, including higher government officials in Puerto Rico are blocking relief distribution to the common people on the island. At least one person has died from being crushed in their own home when it collapsed, almost everybody is sleeping outside due to fear of the same thing happening to them. The power grid has yet again totally collapsed, when it wasn’t entirely functional since Hurricane Maria. Many have lost access to water, and general access on the island is interrupted due to collapsed roads. This isn’t to mention that some are committing suicide because of the level of suffering that has been endured, intentionally and systemically in place from the Trump Administration, but we cannot forget the history of colonization that has plagued the island for over 500 years.

We are asking for donations of items listed below. We will be delivering any goods received to a grassroots organization in the Bronx, El Maestro’s. This organization is directly connected to the people on the island, and we can confirm that any donations received are going where they need to go, helping those who need them.

Collection spots will be at: Bramble Community Herbal Shop, Lehman Alternative Community School, and Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming. Each location has different drop off hours, based on open hours.  We will be collecting for two more weeks, until Thursday, 2/6. See below for more information.

Please visit Ruta Solidaria if you are on the island, or have direct connections and want more detailed information. In Spanish only.