In this holiday season we think there are two rules everyone should follow: 1. Connect with family and friends, 2. Look for ways to help others who need it.

Over the past three months staff and volunteers at the Chantilly non-profit, Unidos por Puerto Rico, have been organizing non-stop to help family, friends, and neighbors in Puerto Rico who are suffering from the devastating impacts of hurricane Maria and other major storms this past fall.

While the rest of the world has moved on, Puerto Ricans are facing relentless challenges including trying to navigate life with over 80% of the country still without power. The needs are enormous and Unidos por Puerto Rico is working hard to gather support in Virginia, DC, and Maryland to help fill them. They are still collecting staples which can be dropped off Mon – Fri 9 – 4 at 14320 Sullyfield Circle A in Chantilly, including:

Batteries of all sizes
Flashlights
Baby Food / Baby Formula
Baby Diapers & Adult Diapers
Wipes
First Aid Kits
Canned Food (not expired)
Plastic 5 gallons gas containers
TOYS and books (no batteries needed)
Airline Miles

They are also 2 weeks into a fundraising campaign on Go Fund Me, which is working to raise $10,000.

For their tireless work on behalf of those in need in Puerto Rico, we’d like to recognize Unidos por Puerto Rico with our Ampersand Award for December. We are making a donation to support their campaign and we’d like to encourage others to do the same, either through the Go Fund Me campaign or by donating supplies from the list above.

It will take years to fix all of the issues that our fellow Americans are grappling with in Puerto Rico, but let’s support those who are working to fill the needs in this holiday season and get the 2018 New Year off to a good start.