NC State is one of over 115 universities across the nation that have helped launch a fundraising campaign to raise relief money for Puerto Rico after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria. The Students with Puerto Rico fundraiser started as an effort propelled by five universities with a goal of $150,000; it has now become an initiative with a fundraising total of over $164,000.
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, just two weeks after Hurricane Irma. The Category 4 hurricane left the whole island without power. Resources including food, water and shelter have become sparse as the infrastructure and supply centers have been destroyed.
Mariana Andreu-Sanz, a third-year studying anthropology, was born and raised in Puerto Rico, before moving to Charlotte when she was 14. After hearing about the fundraiser through a cousin in Puerto Rico, Andreu-Sanz became the contact person for Students with Puerto Rico, as well as the fundraising student representative for NC State.
“The money from Students with Puerto Rico is going towards the United for Puerto Rico fund, which was originally started by the first lady of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Irma,” Andreu-Sanz said. “United for Puerto Rico then sends it to a variety of private sector companies that are doing what they can to help people.”
Each university is intended to raise $1,000 to contribute toward the fundraiser. Andreu-Sanz discussed how the fundraiser has changed that goal since its launch.
“Other universities have raised their goals because they have the funds, the means and students are very aware of the situation,” Andreu-Sanz stated. “I’ve seen in NC State the situation is not a very big deal. A lot of people don’t understand what’s happened, what’s going on or what they can do to help.”
NC State has raised no money for the cause through this fundraiser, which is precisely why Andreu-Sanz is working on even more Puerto Rico relief fundraising initiatives, such as a female hygiene and underwear drive through the Circle of Sisterhood.
The greater Raleigh community is also reaching out for donations. Tropical Picken Chicken, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Raleigh, has been working with the organization North Carolina for Puerto Rico.
The restaurant is accepting donations at all of their locations every single day. Beginning Saturday on 1210 Front Street, the restaurant will be conducting a fundraising event with food sponsors and live DJs.
“We will be hosting fundraisers every Saturday until we can get Puerto Rico back to where it needs to be,” said Randy Hernandez, owner of Tropical Picken Chicken. “It is America. We are going to do what we have to do to help our fellow Americans and bridge the gaps between our cultures.”
For Andreu-Sanz, the issue hits close to home; not only does she have many friends and family who live in Puerto Rico, but on Thursday, she was told her great-grandfather passed away due to the lack of power on the island.
“The fact of the matter is that you don’t really realize the fact that people are dying, until someone you know or a family member of yours dies because they couldn’t get oxygen on time, or they couldn’t get insulin on time,” Andreu-Sanz said. “We [Puerto Ricans] come in all shapes and colors. We are Americans. We are United States citizens.”
