HNBA Presente – How You Can Help

Florida, the Carolinas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the surrounding Caribbean islands are once again faced with a devastating and serious natural disaster. Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian have left behind severe flooding, destruction of critical infrastructure, and loss of essential services, including electricity and running water.  As the HNBA has done in the past, we want to rally our members, raise awareness of the serious issues exacerbated by both hurricanes, and provide a mechanism for financial support to the community. We have included a list of organizations for HNBA members to consider for contributions and donations to help the residents of these regions during this time. The HNBA is also working with its relevant Special Committees to explore other appropriate means of assistance.

For more information on how to help, HNBA members and allies can contact any of the following organizations:

• https://lnkd.in/eWefhyd8  Hispanic Federation (HF). “HF seeks to empower and advance the Hispanic community, support Hispanic families, and strengthen Latino institutions through work in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment, & the environment …  [HF] is already on the ground providing emergency relief services and essential supplies to the communities most affected.”

• https://lnkd.in/eEyD2bcU – United Way of Puerto Rico. “[W]e are committed to promoting our social movement and in that way mobilize thousands of people to contribute, be a volunteer and support our cause to improve the conditions of the whole community.”

• https://www.power4puertorico.com/prdonate list of community-based groups in Puerto Rico to consider for donations and contributions.

Resources for The Dominican Republic 

• https://www.habitat.org/where-we-build/dominican-republic Habitat Dominican Republic offers both financial and non-financial support that helps families access essential services and turn housing into a durable asset that adds value to the communities we serve. We also provide construction technical assistance to guide families in building their own homes.

• https://www.americares.org/where-we-work/latin-america-caribbean/dominican-republic/ Americares has been providing critical health programs to the Dominican Republic for decades, delivering more than $625 million in medicine, medical supplies and other improvements to a partner network of health organizations serving more than 250 communities across the country.

Resources for Cuba

• https://friendsofcaritascubana.org/ Friends of Caritas Cuba They Provide direct humanitarian and social service relief on the island. They are currently collecting donations in response to Hurricane Ian

• https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-ian/ Direct Relief is also coordinating contributions for relief and recovery efforts to Cuba and Florida.

• https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/hurricane-ian-relief-fund/?rf=twtr Global Giving is also doing important work for Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Florida.

Resources for Florida 

• The Florida Disaster Fund is an organization in communication with through my non-profit the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education (CAALE). That’s the state’s official private fund for emergency disaster recovery. Donations to the organization will be distributed across various groups that help with response and relief efforts. You can donate on their site or by texting “DISASTER” to 20222.

• https://www.rootsofhope.org/#donate, The Miami Foundation, is matching gifts up to the first $5,000 raised to the Roots of Hope campaign.

• https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/, The American Red Cross, supports all the states affected by Hurricane Ian. The American National Red Cross is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to the American National Red Cross are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Red Cross’ tax identification number is 53-0196605.

• https://flayld.org/disaster-legal-services-hotline/ FEMA/YLD Disaster Hotline: After a storm, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the ABA Young Lawyers Section and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may activate the Disaster Relief Hotline. All Florida Bar members eligible to practice may volunteer to provide basic civil legal services for people who cannot otherwise afford legal representation in non-fee-generating cases. After a hurricane hits, many people need simple advice about how to get their lives back in order. Sign up to volunteer to answer the questions of hurricane victims on a pro bono basis.

• https://florida.freelegalanswers.org/ Florida Free Legal Answers: Although attorneys are strongly cautioned against engaging in the solicitation of hurricane victims (which is prohibited by Rule 4-7.18), the Florida Free Legal Answers program offers a relatively easy way to lend your expertise. Sign up to quickly and easily answer questions from the public. It is easy, quick, and crucial to those in need of assistance.

• https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/florida-pro-bono-matters Florida Pro Bono Matters is another way to assist Floridians via an interactive website funded by The Florida Bar Foundation — both during hurricane recovery and year-round. Members may view descriptions of available pro bono opportunities and indicate their preference.

• https://www.disasterlegalaid.org/advocates/ National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center welcomes all advocates and volunteers from nonprofit legal aid organizations, bar associations, pro bono counsel from law firms and corporations, law school students and faculty, and allied nonprofits working on disaster legal aid. Visit the website to sign up. The website has links to a multitude of disaster relief manuals and training tools.