Important message from the University of Florida Center for Latin American Studies.
Greetings All,
Thank you so much for all your donations so far. We have received word from the Coalition of Immokalee workers that they have had an overwhelming amount of support and are not in need of the supplies that we have collected. So that is good news on that front.
In light of that we will be redirecting supplies to help with relief efforts in Puerto Rico to help them with recovery from the immense devastation suffered at the hands of Hurricane Maria. Some elements of this you may or may not know but the White House has yet to decide if they will send monetary aid to the island. Also Puerto Rico is not allowed to receive aid or shipments from countries outside of the United States due to the Jones Act which requires that all shipments to Puerto Rico have to go through a United States port and be delivered on a United States ship. The White House has also declined to suspend this rule despite the immense need on the island and offers from other countries to support.
That being said we really need to come together and help the people of Puerto Rico even more because of the precarious situation they find themselves in as a colonized island of the United States.
We will be collecting for the next two weeks optimistically and if needs continue beyond that. Below are some of the things we need as well as different drop-off locations on UF campus.
· Bottled Water · Toothpaste/Toothbrush · Deodorant · Bar Soap · Children’s Clothes · Baby Formula · Baby Food · Cat/Dog Food · Lighters · Diapers · Baby wipes · Bug spray · Underwear · Socks · Tarps · Non-perishable or canned foods · Feminine hygiene products · Hand Sanitizer · Trash Bags · Batteries · Flash Lights · Sunscreen
Drop off locations include are:
UF Graduate Assistants United Office – Yon 224 Tuesday and Thursday 2-4 PM and Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.
Center for Latin American Studies – 3rd Floor Grinter Hall, 8 AM to NOON and 1 PM to 5 PM
Center for African Studies at the University of Florida (MDP Office) – Grinter 470 from 9 AM to 5 PM
La Salita in the Reitz Union Office from 9 AM to 7 PM
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