As Sherry and I discussed on this week’s podcast, we’ve both been deeply affected by the destruction Hurricane Maria caused in Puerto Rico. It’s heartbreaking in any circumstance, but having visited this island just a few months ago to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, seeing the damage feels especially personal.
The post-storm conditions reported across the island are dire: widespread power outages, limited access to clean water, scarce fuel, interrupted phone service, and shortages of food and medicine. A friend who works with FEMA recently returned from the island and described how the lack of reliable electricity is compounding every problem. Hospitals can only run on generators for so long, and with fuel supplies limited, they are forced to delay surgeries and risk spoilage of essential medications that require refrigeration. School closures could last months, possibly up to a year in some areas, and the cumulative impact on families and communities is difficult to comprehend.
We wanted to do more than watch from afar. Early last week we made a donation to support relief efforts and, not satisfied with just that, we reached out to companies we’ve worked with—podcast sponsors, collaborators, and friends—asking if they would consider donating as well. Many organizations were already responding to other simultaneous disasters, so we prepared ourselves for a muted response. Instead, we were overwhelmed by generosity.
We are both thrilled and humbled to share that, through the combined efforts of these partners and supporters, we’ve helped raise $12,000 for Puerto Rico relief. All funds were directed to United for Puerto Rico to support emergency response and recovery work on the island. We are deeply grateful to the companies and individuals who responded immediately and generously to our request.
DAP Products | Shades of Light | The Annie Selke Co. | HANDy Paint | Sabrina Soto | Delta Faucet
Universal Furniture | Cardboard Safari | Grove Collaborative | West Elm | Wohven T-Shirt Subscription
Note: Many organizations we contacted were already donating through other channels; if a company isn’t listed here it doesn’t mean they didn’t contribute.
If you’d like to help too, you can donate to United for Puerto Rico. Even small contributions add up and can make a meaningful difference during emergency response and recovery operations. Coordinated donations help fund fuel for generators, medical supplies, temporary housing, food distribution, clean water initiatives, and support for hospitals and first responders—critical needs in the weeks and months after a major hurricane.
Recovery will be a long process. Rebuilding infrastructure, restoring reliable power, and reopening schools all require sustained commitment from government agencies, nonprofits, private partners, and individuals. Right now, immediate relief is essential to prevent further loss of life and to stabilize communities so longer-term recovery efforts can begin.
Thank you to everyone who has already donated, spread the word, or offered support in any way. Your compassion matters. If you can give a little, if you can share information about trusted relief organizations, or if you can volunteer time or resources where appropriate, your actions will help Puerto Rico move from crisis toward recovery.
With gratitude,
— John and Sherry