NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Five years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and nearly three years after two earthquakes struck the island, Hurricane Fiona has shaken the island again.
With over 300,000 Puerto Ricans living in Connecticut, New Haven's oldest Latinx lead multi-service organization is ready to lend a helping hand to those Puerto Ricans deciding to resettle in Connecticut.
"What we are good at is providing crisis management services to our communities, making sure that folks that basic needs and that's what the COVID pandemic has taught us to really hone in," said Bruni Pizarro, Executive Director of Junta for Progressive Action.
In this time of critical need, strengthening their partnerships with other New Haven nonprofits is key.
"For example food pantries, employment services, other nonprofits, city agencies that can support us in the work so that we can provide holistic services," Pizarro says.
The operator of New Haven's Puerto Rican Festival is among several such organizations around the state asking for monetary donations through the website CThelpsPR.org
"I think the mental health aspect and anxiety that's so present in many of our families (in Puerto Rico) is what also strikes me with this particular storm," said Joe Rodriguez, Board President of New Haven-based Puerto Ricans United, Inc.
Stamford's Americares says one of the biggest challenges in their efforts to offer aid in Puerto Rico is access.
"The places that have been hardest hit are still inaccessible because of the flooding and some of the towns that they're hoping to get to some of the larger towns on the island have eventually become islands themselves," said Mariel Fonteyn, Americares Director for U.S. Emergency Response.
Americares, which has had offices in Puerto Rico for five years, is offering grants to organizations they partner with in the healthcare field.
"So that they can meet immediate needs," Fonteyn said. "This can be anything from gas so that they can continue to power their generators while the power is out to items that they need to purchase for their patients or for their communities."
The Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Day Parades Festivals, which includes the CICD-Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. Hartford Chapter, Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, Puerto Rican Festival of New Haven, Meriden Puerto Rican Festival, Boriken Festival of Norwich, and the Waterbury Puerto Rican Parade & Festival, released the following statement Tuesday regarding Hurricane Fiona’s devastating impact on Puerto Rico.
“Our hearts and prayers are with our brothers & sisters in Puerto Rico as they once again are faced with the catastrophic devastation of a natural disaster – Hurricane Fiona. We continue to monitor official updates, and media reports, and speak with families & advocates on the ground. In the last forty–eight hours, we have received countless messages asking how we – the Connecticut Puerto Rican community & beyond – can help. As we have learned from the past, we must be smart and strategic in our efforts. This is why in accordance with Governor Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico’s request for the diaspora not to send humanitarian aid, at this time; we will not be organizing a statewide effort to collect humanitarian aid. Instead, we are relaunching “CT Helps PR/ CT Ayuda PR”, an online relief effort that was launched in the aftermath of the 2020 earthquake. Should you want to donate to our efforts you can do so by clicking here www.CTHelpsPR.org or www.CTAyudaPR.org."
In addition, we are encouraging residents to donate to local reputable organizations on the island such as:
● Taller Salud - Taller Salud is a community-based feminist organization dedicated to improving women's access to healthcare, reducing violence in community settings, and fostering economic development through education and activism. Founded in 1979, Taller Salud is an independent, non-governmental, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization.
● Hospital del Nino - The “Society to Prevent Tuberculosis in Children” was founded in 1924. Under the direction of Dr. José Rodríguez Pastor, a group of dedicated citizens joined forces to offer help and treatment to those suffering from this disease that affected Puerto Rico at that time. It was decided then that hospital facilities would be built in order to offer more complete services to the patients.
● Para La Naturaleza - Para la Naturaleza brings together every person who wants a sustainable future for Puerto Rico, where our children can grow up in habitable cities, swim in the crystal-clear waters of our rivers and feed themselves off the land.We make transformative experiences in nature happen. We protect lands of high ecological value and encourage people to take responsibility for all our natural resources while pushing forward public policy for their protection.With more that forty-three years working together with other organizations for the protection of nature in our islands, we have identified a common goal for every person committed to conservation.
● Casa Pueblo Adjuntas Puerto Rico – Casa Pueblo is a community self-management project that is committed to appreciating and protecting natural, cultural, and human resources. It was born in 1980 when the government of Puerto Rico wanted to start a mining operation in 17 deposits of silver, gold and copper. Mining would have caused an ecological and social catastrophe in 36,000 cuerdas of land in the municipalities of Adjuntas, Utuado, Lares and Jayuya. Among the founding members who started this fight and who still remain are Mrs. Tinti Deyá Díaz and Ing. Alexis Massol González, together with an exemplary body of volunteers.
For more information on initiatives near you, you can also contact:
Hartford (860) 904-7860 / www.HartfordPRParade.com
New Haven (203) 887-9238 / https://pruinc.org
Bridgeport https://www.prpfc.org
Waterbury 203-910-5707 / https://www.waterburypr.org
Norwich 860-287-7531 / https://www.facebook.com/borikenfestivalofnorwich
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