Exeter Raises Funds to Send To Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds, made direct landfall on Puerto Rico early Wednesday, Sept. 20. The storm barreled through the island, leaving in its wake regions without power, cell phone service and potable water. A total of 51 people have died as a result of the storm. One month later, national relief efforts continue with less than 15 percent of the island having electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Puerto Rico is now responsible for the largest usage of temporary power in U.S. history. In response to the tragedy, the Exeter community has organized a fall term fundraiser to raise money for Puerto Rican hurricane relief, spearheaded by Director of Service Learning Elizabeth Reyes, English Instructors Matthew Miller and William Perdomo and senior Menat Bahnasy.

"Every penny counts. It’s nice to work for a cause you believe in, to give a little. It’s an opportunity for the Exeter community to come together and give back to others that need it."

The fundraiser has garnered support from faculty, staff and students. “The initiative has grown so much. This cause is important to Exeter because despite being a larger world event, the crisis in Puerto Rico touches the lives of many Exonians, students and faculty, who have family and friends there,” Reyes said. “Even for people without family there, this is a humanitarian issue with Puerto Ricans unable to access water and electricity, as well as an environmental issue with climate change concerns.”

Last Friday, Bahnasy and upper Emily Cloonan coordinated a coin drive in the Agora, where Exonians donated their loose change throughout the day, raising over 400 dollars. At Saturday night’s Afro-Latino Exonian Society music festival, Exonians raised another 100 dollars.

Cloonan was drawn to the fundraiser because she felt a connection with the island after annual trips to Puerto Rico as a child. “I grew up meeting people from there, and I could not help but think about how difficult it must be to be living there right now,” she said. “I think the island and the magnitude of the damages have been a bit overlooked right now, and I wanted to do everything in my power to help.”

The fundraising effort is ongoing, with a coffeehouse scheduled for this Friday night, Oct. 27. The coffeehouse will feature talents from members of the Exeter community, such as singing, dancing, poetry readings and a performance by student step team Precision.

While admission to the event is free, baked goods, loose leaf tea and raffle tickets will be available for purchase. The raffle prizes include gift cards to local cafés like D Squared Java and Laney and Lu, a large chocolate pumpkin and a ‘dickey pass,’ the first of its kind in PEA history. This pass will let the raffle winner skip one class free of consequence. In addition to the coffeehouse event, Reyes will be selling blue and white rubber wristbands emblazoned with the phrase “PEA Stands With Puerto Rico” for two dollars apiece during this week’s assembly breaks.

Upper Lydia Anderson, another student involved with the fundraiser, said that the committee hopes that these events will help to bring awareness to the situation in Puerto Rico on campus while donating money so that islanders can buy necessities. “Our main goal is raising money for Puerto Rico because at this point, a lot of supplies aren’t getting to them for whatever reason. So, we want to give them the ability to get what they need at such a time of crisis.”

Reyes believes the fundraiser will foster solidarity and empathy within in the Exeter community, and encourage Exonians to consider issues beyond the Exeter bubble. “The response has been very positive, with people asking ‘How can I help,’ ‘What can I do’ and ‘I want to get involved,’ ” she said. “Every penny counts. It’s nice to work for a cause you believe in, to give a little. It’s an opportunity for the Exeter community to come together and give back to others that need it.”