How to Help?
Many of you are ready to help in many ways.
The needs change hour by hour but one thing I've noticed is the urgency to take stuff (that might be perceived as critical items) and not take the time to understand people's needs.
My friend Walter Echevarria shares a video of some of the concerns he has that I have too. You can watch the video below.
Where do I take much-needed Supplies for Earthquake Relief?
Here are some suggestions I have when it comes to delivering supplies and much-needed items.
1. Identify the Community Leaders who are working with communities.
They might have enough water but might need dog food for some pet owners that are in the camps. This list was initially created by Walter Echevarria and I will be updating when I can.
2. Ask What Specific Needs They Have
The community leaders have realtime info of what is needed and what new needs might have arisen. For example, the other day as I reached the camp at Paquito Montaner en Ponce we had an older handicapped woman stuck in a car. That day I had supplies that the Hispanic Federation and Waves Ahead Corp had provided so I can deliver them.
But, that person needed a locksmith and someone to help her get out of the car. I reached out to my friend who Jorge L. Torres from Gruas BTS and we did our best to help her. We are trying to figure out how to help the long term. That same person needed Insulin (and had not taken it for days). Dr. Kenira Thompson, from Ponce Health Sciences University, reached out to me, deployed a doctor and got her the medicine she needed in the same day and then coordinated for a full mobile health clinic to visit el Paquito Montaner's Parking. Thank you Jorge and Kenira!
3. Observe and Ask those in the Camp what They Need
Leaders like Walter are overwhelmed. I also got stuck in the middle of people asking me how to help and I could not even answer back because I was dealing with emergencies and other needs in the field. On the 9th I visited the Camp in Peñuelas and asked around what the needs where. I aligned that with the supplies they had and how their awesome Mayor was coordinating efforts and I was able to help a single mother with two kids. What did the kid want? Specific powder milk and she needed a specific formula for the baby. I took out of my pocket an amount of money that would cover both for at least a week and I handed it to her. Thanks to the donations of many of you it was easy for me to meet that specific need. If you are a parent you understand how a kid might not want to consume food because it does not taste right. When you add the factor that these kids have been through multiple tremors and earthquakes I wanted to bring comfort to them and I was able to.
4. Discuss what you observe with those leaders in the Field
Having been in the Military for 9 years and my first job was in the supply and logistics, it made it easy for me to organize myself. Two humanitarian missions as a translator in El Salvador and Honduras helped me jump into action and identify certain needs that those near the issue might not see. More importantly, making those connections to get help.
But without the opinion of Leaders like Luis Borrero my observations are useless. Like for example, most people are trying to help others and just asking enough for themselves but a few percentages are there to take advantage of the situation. Those leaders in the field are the ones who will provide you the insight to continue to help those in need.
2. Ask What Specific Needs They Have
The community leaders have REAL-TIME information on what is needed and what new needs might arise. For example, the other day as I reached the camp at Paquito Montaner en Ponce we had an older handicapped woman stuck in a car. That day I had supplies that needed to be delivered provided by the Hispanic Federation and Waves Ahead Corp.
But, that person needed a locksmith and someone to help her get out of the car. I reached out to my friend who Jorge L. Torres from Gruas BTS and we did our best to help her. We are trying to figure out how to help long term. That same person needed Insulin (and had not taken it for days). Dr. Kenira Thompson, from Ponce Health Sciences University, reached out to me, deployed a doctor and got her the medicine she needed on the same day and then coordinated for a full mobile health clinic to visit el Paquito Montaner's Parking. Thank you, Jorge and Kenira!
3. Observe and Ask those in the Camp what They Need
Leaders like Walter are overwhelmed. I also got stuck in the middle of people asking me how to help and I could not even answer back because I was dealing with emergencies and other needs in the field. On the 9th I visited the Camp in Peñuelas and asked around what the needs where. Because I aligned that with the supplies they had and how their awesome Mayor was coordinating efforts, I was able to help a single mother with two kids. What did the kid want? Specific powdered milk and she needed a specific formula for the baby. I took out of my pocket an amount of money that would cover both for at least a week and I handed it to her. Thanks to the donations of many of you it was easy for me to meet that specific need. If you are a parent you understand how a kid might not want to consume food because it does not taste right. When you add the factor that these kids have been through multiple tremors and earthquakes I wanted to bring comfort to them and I was able to.
4. Discuss what you observe with those leaders in the Field
While in the Military for 9 years, my first job was in Supply and Logistics; it made it easy for me to organize myself. Two humanitarian missions as a translator in El Salvador and Honduras helped me jump into action and identify certain needs that those near the issue might not see. More importantly, making those connections to get help.
But without the opinion of Leaders like Luis Borrero my observations are useless. For example, most people are trying to help others and just asking enough for themselves but there are a few people who are there to take advantage of the situation. Those leaders in the field are the ones who will provide you the insight to continue to help those in need.
Special Thanks to the Many Volunteers that Have Helped Especially these Individuals and Organizations!
I will continue to update this list as I have time. There are many I have to highlight here.
Waves Ahead
Thanks to Waves Ahead I have been able to provide comfort to those affected during and after the Earthquakes in the towns of:
- Guayanilla
- Ponce
- Guanica
- Peñuelas
If you are going to make a donation please make sure to make this organization your #1 priority. They hit the ground running and started helping me since the 9th of January.
Click to Donate to Waves Ahead.
Veterinario Express
Thanks to Veterinario Express, many dogs have been vaccinated and treated in the affected towns. Dr. Froilan Oliveras was in Punto Oro (where I grew up in Ponce as a kid), with his mobile vet clinic. I asked for his helped and without hesitation, he moved his team the next day to help an Elderly LGBT member who had adopted 55 dogs. Many of these dogs were left behind after the earthquake. Froilan mentioned he will also provide free services for spaying and Neutering the male dogs.
Hispanic Federation
Thanks to Wilfred Labiosa from Waves Ahead, the Hispanic Federation has been providing us supplies to help those in need in the affected areas. We were able to take supplies to areas that had not received help early on in the towns of Guayanilla, Guanica, Ponce, and Peñuelas. To Charlotte, Warys, Marcos, and the others for helping me help others.
Ponce Health Sciences University
Thanks to Ponce Health Sciences University Foundation and Kenira Thompson, they helped me in providing medications to individuals in El Paquito Montaner and Juan Morel Campos.
They also arranged for their mobile unit to take care of some of the 200+ people in the camp.
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