If you are in Chicago there are several practical ways to support the relief efforts for natural disasters that struck Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.
The island of Puerto Rico is in desperate need of water, food and basic supplies following hurricane Maria. The island of 3.5 million people has no electricity and some will not have it for months.
More than 200 people died September 19, 2017 when a second major earthquake hit south of Mexico City. The Caribbean islands from Barbuda, to the Bahamas have all suffered devastating damage.
While hurricanes have moved the people in these countries are still in need of help. Below are ways you can support relief efforts.
Casa Puertorriquena
(Chicago)
Casa Puertorriqueña, 1237 N. California Ave. will be accepting donations every day. The are collecting flashlights, batteries, lanterns, diapers, formula, canned goods, toiletries and water. Someone will be there until 8pm everyday.
National Museum of Mexican Art and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
( Chicago)
The National Museum of Mexican Art and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance have created a relief fund to support Mexico and Puerto Rico. Funds raised will be donated to Red Cross Mexico (Cruz Roja Mexicana) and American Red Cross Chapter of Puerto Rico. Donations can be made online or in person at the following locations.
- Wintrust’s Pilsen branch located at 1800 S. Blue Island, Chicago IL 60608
- Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: 3000 N. Elbridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
- National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19 St., Chicago, IL 60608
The Puerto Rican Agenda and the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (SRBCC)
(Chicago)
SRBCC, the longest-standing Latino cultural center in Chicago and Puerto Rican leaders in Chicago have organized a campaign online called “Pallets and Planes” to support relief efforts. According to their campaign website,
Each monetary donation contributes to a relief fund used to purchase pallets of emergency supplies that are professionally pre-packaged according to federal shipping regulations directly from warehouses. Shipments are personally received by municipal leadership in Puerto Rico for immediate distribution across the island.
Donate online to the Plane and Pallets campaign.
The American Library Association
(Chicago)
The ALA created a fund to support relief efforts in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Donations can be made online. The library also created funds to help rebuild libraries in Texas and Florida that were destroyed by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.