{"id":22861,"date":"2017-10-19T10:48:09","date_gmt":"2017-10-19T14:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cosmicconvergence.org\/?p=22861"},"modified":"2017-10-19T10:50:17","modified_gmt":"2017-10-19T14:50:17","slug":"peurto-rico-how-to-help-an-island-in-great-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cosmicconvergence.org\/?p=22861","title":{"rendered":"PUERTO RICO: How to help an island in great need"},"content":{"rendered":"

Puerto Rico Needs your Help: How to Volunteer<\/h1>\n


\nCarmela Rodriguez
\nAllTheRooms.<\/p>\n

\"how
Photo by Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4, hit the island of Puerto Rico causing catastrophic effects. It\u2019s a humanitarian crisis that is very close to home \u2014 here at AllTheRooms, our CEO Joseph DiTomaso is half Puerto Rican.<\/p>\n

Over one week on from the hurricane, the island is still without power, with the exception of a few generators that are being used for high-priority buildings such as hospitals. Millions are left without drinking water and cannot bathe or flush toilets. The lack of water is leading to a serious lack of sanitization and this means that conditions are ripe for illness and disease to spread. The island is in desperate need of help from the international community. If you\u2019re keen to volunteer, here\u2019s how you can help:<\/p>\n

1. Who should I volunteer with?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"how
Photo by Seattle Parks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Red Cross is currently training volunteers who will be dispatched to Puerto Rico. The Red Cross is using Florida as a base to give initial training, whilst delegating volunteer roles. They are looking for volunteers with all sorts of different skills, from helping to rebuild houses, through to working with children affected by the hurricane.\u00a0Find out more information or sign up to be a Red Cross volunteer.<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the organization Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is responsible for coordinating relief efforts and delegating roles to volunteers. There are a lot of smaller organizations focusing on one specific area of the relief aid, and VOAD brings together the organizations so they can coordinate, collaborate and communicate. If you\u2019re interested in volunteering with a smaller organization, you can contact VOAD who will help to put you in contact with relief efforts that are already underway.\u00a0Volunteer with VOAD.<\/a><\/p>\n

You can also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, which is an organization that asses\u00a0housing and shelter needs in some of the worst-hit areas. Habitat for Humanity is currently seeking volunteers for the recovery and rebuilding phase, which may last months or even years.\u00a0Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.<\/a><\/p>\n

2. What type of volunteer work is needed?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"how
Photo by The National Guard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the moment Puerto Rico is in a state of chaos. The streets are flooded, there is little-to-no electricity, homes have collapsed and there an estimated 1.5 million people are without drinking water. You should be prepared for difficult, and heart-wrenching conditions. Volunteers will be needed to help at one of the many shelters that are serving the community, load and unload trucks, serve food from the limited supplies, organize the volunteer and relief efforts and help build and set-up facilities.<\/p>\n

3. What are the requirements?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"how
Photo by The National Guard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to help, you must be at least 16 years old to volunteer with the Red Cross, and for other organizations, you may need to be 18 years old. If you are between the ages of 16-18 and keen to volunteer, you will need parental consent. In order to volunteer, you will need to be fit and ready for manual tasks such as loading and unloading heavy objects bringing supplies and building shelters. Most organizations require that you work 8-12 hours a day, depending on the task at hand. If you are working with children, you will need to provide a background check.<\/p>\n

If you have any tips to add to help with the volunteer effort, we would love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

___
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