When University of Guelph PhD student Ivy Robles heard about the devastation caused by in her native Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria three weeks ago, she decided to do what she could to help even if she is 3,100 kilometres away.
Robles, who hails from a town about 20 minutes from the capital San Juan, left Puerto Rico when she was 17 but still has lots of extended family and close friends from high school there. She has started collecting supplies that will be sent to the island to help those in need.
“It was very scary and very nerve-wracking. I felt impotent because it’s very far and not easy to help them out,” Robles said.
“It was very difficult to get in touch with people and it still is. The majority of the island still doesn’t have power and there’s a big issue with getting supplies there and people are getting ill because of the water that is not potable.”
A few days after the hurricane struck, and the breadth of its damage was reported, she started to collect items at the U of G campus that she plans on sending to Puerto Rico.
Robles is collecting medical supplies, personal hygiene items, water, diapers, non-perishable food and anything else that could help families who lost everything in the hurricane.
Clothing is not currently the focus of the drive, but if you do donate clothes, remember that Puerto Rico is a warm weather climate.
Robles has been studying at the U of G for three years. Prior to that she studied in Scotland and at the University of British Columbia. Her field of study is animal welfare and behaviour.
Word of mouth, social media and simple posters placed around the school have led to many donations. The U of G also chipped in with medical supplies.
She is currently trying to get two departments each week at the U of G to hold collection drives.
When she has enough, she will be reaching out to organizations already on the ground helping in Puerto Rico to get the supplies shipped there.
“I’m still looking into how to get the items down there, but once I have a significant amount then I’ll be reaching out to someone that can do that,” she said
She recently moved three pick-up truck loads of material to her own personal storage space at home.
Anyone in the community that can be of assistance to Robles’ efforts can reach her at 1-613-790-4556 or via email at [email protected].
