Puerto Rico is still suffering the consequences of Hurricane Maria and the somewhat haphazard government aid efforts. Ninety percent of the island is still without power, and clean water is near impossible to find, not to mention fuel to boil questionable water.
A group of Puerto Rican Portlanders has taken it on themselves to deliver aid to organizations they trust on the island. Oregon para Puerto Rico (Oregon for Puerto Rico) has gathered around 600 pounds of donations, including bottled water, food and clothing, which two of its members will be delivering to the island later this month.
They are currently raising funds for expenses necessary to deliver this aid. They have a GoFundMe page and are also participating in an event this Saturday at the Portland Mercado (SE Foster and 72nd)--the event is being put on NXT LVL PDX and will give proceeds to Patronato de Arte Contemporaneo, a group building a community kitchen in Mexico; Oregon para Puerto Rico; and Jovenes X Puerto Rico, a youth-driven group in San Juan.
For more, KBOO reporter Sam Bouman spoke to Gabriella Rodriguez with Oregon para Puerto Rico, one of the members who will be traveling to the island.
- KBOO