Puerto Rico hurricane relief trip last week

[-jk]

We joined up with a few other groups on a trip to do hurricane relief work in Puerto Rico last week. There's a lot still to be done! We worked Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri, and had some free time otherwise. Our beachfront resort was really an abandoned school right on the southeast coast. Seventy of us bunked in two classrooms - no A/C but a nice sea breeze most of the time. We ate on the field out back with a delightful Caribbean view!

About 20 of us spent work days cleaning up a yard and repainting a house about 20 minutes away. We moved old cars and engines (the husband had been a mechanic before Maria and health issues ended his career), trimmed vegetation, and scraped, washed, and painted the exterior. The cars had been there before Maria - the entire yard and home had flooded 1-2 feet deep - and the owners didn't want them back.

We spent Wednesday in the El Yunque national forest and at a beach on the north shore, east of San Juan, followed by a drive through Old San Juan and dinner in (newer) San Juan - the evening the Governor resigned. Lots of police and protestor presence, but nothing really worrisome to us when we were there.

The trip was both exhausting and a blast. The wife of the mechanic was so appreciative! Here are too many pictures for anyone curious.

-jk

[YmoBeThere]

You must spread some comments around...

I did some home cleanup volunter work a few years back when I lived in Ohio. Very rewarding, rescued a cat and her kittens on one of the occasions. Did manage to get poison ivy all over my face.

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[left_hook_lacey]

We joined up with a few other groups on a trip to do hurricane relief work in Puerto Rico last week. There's a lot still to be done! We worked Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri, and had some free time otherwise. Our beachfront resort was really an abandoned school right on the southeast coast. Seventy of us bunked in two classrooms - no A/C but a nice sea breeze most of the time. We ate on the field out back with a delightful Caribbean view!

About 20 of us spent work days cleaning up a yard and repainting a house about 20 minutes away. We moved old cars and engines (the husband had been a mechanic before Maria and health issues ended his career), trimmed vegetation, and scraped, washed, and painted the exterior. The cars had been there before Maria - the entire yard and home had flooded 1-2 feet deep - and the owners didn't want them back.

We spent Wednesday in the El Yunque national forest and at a beach on the north shore, east of San Juan, followed by a drive through Old San Juan and dinner in (newer) San Juan - the evening the Governor resigned. Lots of police and protestor presence, but nothing really worrisome to us when we were there.

The trip was both exhausting and a blast. The wife of the mechanic was so appreciative! Here are too many pictures for anyone curious.

-jk

Respect dude. How did you get hooked up with the project? Through church? Volunteer group? Been wanting to do something like this now that my kids are getting older and would be able to help and appreciate the humanity of it.

[Neals384]

Nice photos jk. Bless you for lending a hand as many are in need.

[-jk]

Respect dude. How did you get hooked up with the project? Through church? Volunteer group? Been wanting to do something like this now that my kids are getting older and would be able to help and appreciate the humanity of it.

It was through our church and an organization called “group mission”. My wife organized with them once before in Scranton. We took a half dozen teens and 4 adults. We were paired up with a church group from Nebraska for our specific project. Group mission did the local coordinating and supplying, and pointed us in the right direction.

The kids learned a lot!

-jk

[-jk]

Nice photos jk. Bless you for lending a hand as many are in need.

Thanks!

The pics are a mix from of a bunch of us, so I can only claim a third or so...

-jk

[bundabergdevil]

We joined up with a few other groups on a trip to do hurricane relief work in Puerto Rico last week. There's a lot still to be done! We worked Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri, and had some free time otherwise. Our beachfront resort was really an abandoned school right on the southeast coast. Seventy of us bunked in two classrooms - no A/C but a nice sea breeze most of the time. We ate on the field out back with a delightful Caribbean view!

About 20 of us spent work days cleaning up a yard and repainting a house about 20 minutes away. We moved old cars and engines (the husband had been a mechanic before Maria and health issues ended his career), trimmed vegetation, and scraped, washed, and painted the exterior. The cars had been there before Maria - the entire yard and home had flooded 1-2 feet deep - and the owners didn't want them back.

We spent Wednesday in the El Yunque national forest and at a beach on the north shore, east of San Juan, followed by a drive through Old San Juan and dinner in (newer) San Juan - the evening the Governor resigned. Lots of police and protestor presence, but nothing really worrisome to us when we were there.

The trip was both exhausting and a blast. The wife of the mechanic was so appreciative! Here are too many pictures for anyone curious.

-jk

Enjoyed the pictures. Good on ya!