Since Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, is in a devastating situation, requiring lots of outside aid, we as fellow U.S. citizens need to make sure we can help the relief efforts.
There are a few places online to which anyone can donate money to put towards the island’s recovery, including United for Puerto Rico, UNICEF, and the Center for Popular Democracy.
Besides donations, you could go on a service trip to the island to directly help the people and the land. One organization that does this is Puerto Rico Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. On their webpage there is an online application for solo volunteers.
It is also important for ourselves as students and members of a community to band together as donators and volunteers. The personal benefits that would accompany volunteers on a service trip can range from identity to academic. Volunteerism is extremely important in society because it builds a real sense of community as well as character. By spending your time serving others in need, it can build your own values and work towards strong humanitarian values. It can also force you to consider others, rather than yourself, therefore becoming self-less and educated.
It is important that we send aid to Puerto Rico and help in any way we can. Puerto Rico will not be getting back on track soon unless we, along with others, make the necessary actions to send them aid, directly or indirectly. Puerto Rico is our responsibility, and because of that, everyone needs to work together and rectify this humanitarian crisis.
Arduengo, Ricardo, and France-Presse, Agence. 2017. Getty Images.
“Hurricane Maria Updates: In Puerto Rico, the Storm ‘Destroyed Us.’” The New York Times. nytimes.com/2017/09/21/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html. Accessed 20 Oct 2017.
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