How to Help in Puerto Rico

During this season of giving, there is still room to help Puerto Ricans recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

Photographs by Ian Allen
Illustrations by Grace Hemler; map by Holly Wales

IN SEPTEMBER 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Maria leveled 70,000 homes and 80 percent of Puerto Rico’s utility poles. For a community mired in a 12-year recession, it was a devastating blow. In the nine days following the storm, the federal government spent $6 million on the territory’s recovery, in stark contrast to its response to Hurricane Harvey, weeks earlier, when $142 million was put toward the Houston area.

Now, over a year later, the island continues to struggle, but locals are embracing visitors — and your vacation can make a difference. Here’s how.

Clear Trails in El Yunque National Forest

Home to Puerto Rican parrots, coqui frogs, and 240 tree species, the rainforest was ravaged after back-to-back hurricanes. Assist Fundación Amigos de El Yunque by cleaning up debris. Email yunquevolunteers@gmail.com with your available dates and contact information.

Plant Trees Across Puerto Rico

Researchers estimate that Maria damaged up to 31 million of the island’s trees. Nature lovers can join up with conservation group Para la Naturaleza, which organizes volunteer tree planting, nursery maintenance, and other efforts in and around Fajardo, Manatí, Ponce, and San Juan. Volunteers can also call the reservations team at 787–722–5882.

“Tourism is very important to our recovery efforts….In the aftermath of the devastation, we want to show that Puerto Rico is a great place to do business and to live.”

— Ricardo Rosselló, governor of Puerto Rico

Fix Homes in Barranquitas and Yabucoa

“Roofs had flown off homes; everything had flooded,” says Olga Cartajena of her hometown, Barranquitas. Over in Yabucoa, even concrete structures were wiped out. You can help repair houses in either city through All Hands and Hearts.

Rebuild Community in Vieques

The island eight miles off Puerto Rico’s coast suffered some of the worst damage, including the destruction of almost all of its wooden buildings. Justice for Vieques Now lists last-minute opportunities with local organizations, like beach cleanups with ViequesLove or house painting with Sail Relief Team.

Connect Relief welcomes all volunteers, whether they’re individuals, groups, nonprofits and churches/faith-based groups. If you’re interested in volunteering, email connectrelief@gmail.com. The Mochileando Foundation is also active — check its Facebook page or email ayuda@mochileando.com.

About the author: Californian-turned-New Yorker (well, Hobokenite) Rachel Chang is a writer-editor who has worked at Us Weekly, CosmoGIRL!, J-14, and the WB and written for Travel + Leisure, Mic’s Out of Office, Mental Floss, and Intrepid Travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.