#PhillyBackpack Project
Philly Boricuas is spearheading a collaboration with other local organizations and community support to deliver aid to our friends and families affected by the earthquake in Puerto Rico.
Here you will find the details of our operation
Supply list and drop off centers
Because supply chains have not been cut off on the island, individuals and organizations alike are able to purchase needed items. Emergency backpacks will be used in case there is a need to quickly evacuate. We do not know how long it will be before the aftershocks stop.
Emergency backpacks can be very expensive and sales tax on the island is already high. By purchasing the items ourselves and assembling the backpacks we cut the cost and provide reassurance to those who are unprepared for quick evacuation.
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Philly Boricuas is aiming to send 1,500 #Phillybackpacks down to the southern coast of Puerto Rico. If possible when you donate please bring at least 1 backpack with 1 of each item on the list.
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When you drop off your full backpack donation we will give you an itemized receipt with a tax ID.
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Don't have the ability to drive to the drop off locations?
Here is an Amazon wish list with the items on our list that you can order and ship to our Providence or Make the Road drop off centers.
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When you place an order on Amazon please email us a picture of your order confirmation to info@phillyboricua.org and we will send you an itemized receipt with the tax ID
who is receiving supplies on the ground?
Philly Boricuas is Primarily collaborating with WATER FOR PUERTO RICO. WPR is an island-based organization created by Alejandro Calaf in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria centered on providing clean water access via distribution of water filtration systems and other emergency essentials to those most in need.
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Philly Boricuas is also working with Dr. Domingo Marques. Dr. Marques is a Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer at the Universidad Carlos Albizu in PR, certified in natural disaster response by the National Network at Public Health Institute. He is also a researcher in suicide, Borderline Personality Disorder, and is an author of the Harvard study of Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
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Members of Philly Boricuas have a previous relationship with both WPR and Dr. Marques.
Puchi De Jesus and Adrian Mercado were living in Portland OR during Hurricane Maria and helped organize a donation drive as part of a group called ORxPR. The group was able to ship over 13,000 lbs of supplies to the island in collaboration with WPR and Dr. Marques.
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Below you will find information on WPR, Dr. Marques and ORxPR's previous work.
Puchi De Jesus and Adrian Mercado returned from Puerto Rico after spending the 18th through the 21st on the island. Below you will find information on additional groups we are collaborating with after having identified them while being on the ground.
This video is Puchi De Jesus and Adrian Mercado's experience in Puerto Rico after the earthquake as part of Philly Boricuas
This video is Puchi De Jesus and Adrian Mercado's experience in grassroots relief work after Hurricane Maria
How will everything ship?
Philly Boricuas will be shipping supplies via air freight.
Airlines have the ability to ship cargo fast. Through air cargo supplies sent out can arrive on the same day. We will be dropping off shipments at the airport and ensure that our collaborators on the ground pick them up at the airport.
Additionally, our members Puchi De Jesus and Adrian Mercado were on the island from 1/18/20 to 1/21/20 in order to personally ensure proper delivery and distribution of supplies.
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So Far Philly Boricuas has succesfully sent:
Are we accepting monetary donations?
Yes! Because Philly Boricuas is a grassroots group still in its early stages and is not a registered 501c3 we have acquired a Fiscal Agent with the sole purpose of supporting our earthquake relief.
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Here is some information on Mother's Mission, our fiscal agent
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https://www.facebook.com/missionde.madres.7
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http://www.stmaryschester.org/
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You can donate via checks or via online donations.
For the sake of accountability and ease of fund management, Philly Boricuas will not be accepting cash donations.
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For checks please address them to:
Mother's Mission - St Mary's Chester
(please state "Philly Boricuas Earthquake Relief" in the memo section)
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You can mail checks to:
Mother's Mission - St Mary's Episcopal Church
PO Box 595
Chester PA 19106
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Venmo or Cash App:
856-580-7174
(please state "Philly Boricuas Earthquake Relief" in What is this for? section)
please email us a screenshot of your Venmo donation and we will send you back a receipt.
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Absolutely all money raised will go towards paying for packing/shipping costs of the supplies and to purchase any missing supplies needed.
There will be public access to view receipts and keep track of all purchases and payments that Philly Boricuas makes.
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Each backpack is estimated to have a weight of up to 15 lbs. Sending 1,500 backpacks will total around 22,500 lbs, therefore we expect to spend at least $3,000-$4,000 by the end of this campaign.
You'd rather send supplies and funds directly to PR?
If you would prefer to send supplies and funds directly to PR and cut the middle steps, below is a google spreadsheet compiled list of community groups, organizations, and brigades that are putting in the work.
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Please be aware that being a registered 501c3 is not common in Puerto Rico due to tax laws, therefore many groups and organizations on the list are not.
How to know what locations need help and what they need
If you are on the island or are traveling to the island with the intent of helping those in need you can use these as reference.
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Website created by community members as a way to ensure that proper supplies are arriving at the locations where they are needed the most. It is updated by volunteer leaders who are working in affected sectors and directly see the impact and needs in neighborhoods.
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Google map, where each pin shows the different camps that are "unofficial" ad-hoc camps. The needs and contact info are detailed in each pin.