The vibrant spirit and breathtaking beauty of Puerto Rico captured our hearts just a few months ago when Sherry and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary on its shores. We explored its rich culture, admired its stunning landscapes, and fell deeply in love with the warmth of its people. So, when Hurricane Maria unleashed its devastating force upon the island, the news hit us with an incredibly profound sense of grief and helplessness. To witness such widespread destruction anywhere would be heartbreaking, but having such recent, cherished memories of this paradise made the suffering of Puerto Rico uniquely gut-wrenching. The images and reports flooding in since Maria’s passage have painted a stark picture of a crisis unlike any we’ve ever seen, transforming an island paradise into a landscape of despair and urgent need.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis unfurling in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria cannot be overstated. Reports from the ground, corroborated by our friend whose husband works with FEMA and recently returned from the island, reveal an extremely dire situation. The fundamental pillars of modern life – electricity, clean water, fuel, reliable phone service, and access to food – have been almost entirely eradicated. This catastrophic breakdown of infrastructure has plunged millions into an unimaginable struggle for survival. Our friend’s husband, who has witnessed numerous disaster zones, was genuinely taken aback by the steep, arduous path to recovery facing Puerto Rico, primarily due to the near-total loss of electricity across the island. The implications are staggering: hospitals, the very last line of defense in a medical crisis, can only operate for a limited time on generators. With fuel critically scarce and supply lines severely disrupted, these essential facilities are grappling with impossible choices, forced to postpone life-saving surgeries, and witnessing vital medicines expire due to lack of refrigeration. The ripple effects extend to every facet of life; for instance, the sobering projection that children in Puerto Rico might not return to school for an entire year underscores the long-term educational and developmental challenges ahead. This catastrophic chain of events is truly unimaginable, impacting lives on every conceivable level, creating an urgent and desperate need for immediate and sustained assistance. The human toll, the profound suffering, and the sheer scale of the challenges faced by the people of Puerto Rico demand our collective attention and unwavering support as they embark on an incredibly long and difficult journey towards recovery and rebuilding their lives.
Witnessing the unfolding tragedy from afar stirred a deep sense of frustration within us. Despite making a personal donation to relief efforts early last week, a small step towards doing something, we still found ourselves lying awake each night, grappling with the feeling that we needed to do more. The enormity of the crisis felt overwhelming, and our individual contribution, while meaningful, seemed like a drop in an ocean of need. This persistent feeling of wanting to contribute more, to leverage our network for a greater impact, sparked an idea. We decided to embark on an unprecedented initiative for us: emailing every company we’ve recently collaborated with, whether they were podcast sponsors, design partners, or any other professional contact. Our simple, heartfelt plea was to ask if they would consider making a donation to support the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. We had never attempted anything like this before, so our expectations were tempered. Given that many organizations had already generously contributed to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey and Irma, we tried not to get our hopes up too high, understanding that resources and philanthropic budgets might already be stretched. Yet, the conviction that we had to try, to extend our reach and amplify the call for help for the resilient people of Puerto Rico, far outweighed any apprehension about the outcome. This leap of faith, born from a desire to make a tangible difference, set the stage for an incredible outpouring of support that would soon follow.
What unfolded next was nothing short of astonishing, a testament to the incredible generosity and compassion within our extended community. We are absolutely THRILLED and profoundly humbled to share that, thanks to the swift and unwavering support of our partners, we have successfully raised a remarkable $12,000 (!!!) so far for Puerto Rico relief efforts. Every single dollar of these contributions has been channeled directly to those in need via United for Puerto Rico, an organization renowned for its direct and impactful aid. The response from the companies we contacted was genuinely overwhelming; many didn’t hesitate for a moment, responding with an immediate and enthusiastic “I’m in!” Their readiness to step up and make a difference in such a critical time deeply moved us. This outpouring of collective generosity underscores the power of community and the profound impact that can be achieved when individuals and businesses unite for a common, urgent cause. The funds raised will play a crucial role in providing much-needed relief – from restoring power and clean water to supplying medical aid and essential resources – directly supporting the island’s arduous journey towards recovery. We are immensely grateful for the incredible kindness and solidarity demonstrated by these benevolent organizations, whose contributions are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless Puerto Ricans struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Our sincerest gratitude goes out to the following companies who generously contributed to this urgent humanitarian cause, demonstrating their commitment to corporate social responsibility and their deep care for those impacted by disaster. Their immediate responses and substantial donations have been instrumental in reaching our fundraising goal and providing critical aid to Puerto Rico:
DAP Products | Shades of Light | The Annie Selke Co. | HANDy Paint | Sabrina Soto | Delta Faucet
Universal Furniture | Cardboard Safari | Grove Collaborative | West Elm | Wohven T-Shirt Subscription
*It’s important to note that our outreach was met with widespread compassion. Many other companies we contacted were already actively donating through various other channels and respected relief organizations. Therefore, their absence on this particular list by no means signifies an unwillingness to help; rather, it reflects a broad commitment to aiding Puerto Rico’s recovery across the corporate landscape. We extend our sincere thanks to all who have contributed in any form.
The journey to rebuild Puerto Rico is long and challenging, requiring sustained effort and collective compassion. The $12,000 we’ve collectively raised is a fantastic start, but the needs on the ground remain immense. If you, our cherished readers, feel moved to contribute to this vital cause, every single donation, no matter how small, can make an extraordinary difference. Imagine the cumulative power if everyone reading this article paused for just a moment to donate a few dollars. Such a collective act of kindness could translate into a giant, potentially life-saving, impact for families and communities struggling to survive and rebuild in Puerto Rico. Your contribution can help provide generators for hospitals, bring clean water to remote villages, deliver essential medicines, and support the long-term recovery efforts that will enable Puerto Ricans to rebuild their homes, schools, and lives. Please consider joining us in supporting the resilient people of Puerto Rico through direct contributions to United for Puerto Rico, an organization diligently working to bring hope and tangible aid to those who need it most. Together, we can help light the path to recovery for an island and its people who truly deserve our unwavering support.
From the bottom of our hearts, thanks for reading, for caring, and for considering to make a difference. Your generosity and empathy mean the world. <3