The focus of this story is Don Feliberto Maldonado, a senior citizen in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and he’s in desperate need of our help. Don Feliberto has been living in horrendous conditions with no lights or water for the past four-and-a-half-months with little help and only 1 visit from FEMA two weeks ago.
I’m proud to report that we’ve already raised $900 $1200 !!! and we’ll be bringing him his new generator and fuel on Sunday! After being the dark since September 20th when Maria struck, Don Feliberto will finally have power and it’s thanks to this amazing community!
My original post is here, and I hope those of you already supporting don’t mind my re-posting much of what’s below, but, I want to get this in front of as many eyes as possible until the job is done!
Daily Kos’ Chris Reeves was here in PR this past week and he rolled up his sleeves and got to work even though he was really sick. I know we all wish him a speedy recovery!
In preparation for Chris’ arrival, my best friend Gerardo and I traveled to Utuado, PR to begin our search for someone, among so very many, in need of help. The small municipality in the interior mountains of the island was hit especially hard, and many of the residents there are still without power, some without water, for the past 135 days and counting. Their situation remains dire, no matter the “alternative facts” being fed to the American public. I’m so thankful that Chris could see this with his own eyes.
After meeting with the mayor’s office and the Director of Emergency Management, they led Gerardo and I to a senior citizen, Don Feliberto Maldonado López. We finally made it to what’s left of his home and spent the rest of the afternoon with him, listening to his horrific experience. Gerardo and I looked at one another in shock and agreed that we had no choice but to help, we simply couldn’t turn our backs on him. I’ve presented this case to Chris and this report is part of my continuing efforts to present this to as many community members and readers as possible.
Don Feliberto is in desperate need. Even though I know there are thousands upon thousands across the island living in horrific conditions, and I wish we could help them all immediately, my guiding principle through this horror has been to reach one heart at a time. I know this responsibility should be shouldered by our government, however, I think everyone here is painfully aware of our government’s indifferent, unforgivable response. I also believe that if individuals pull together we can accomplish amazing things. I’m convinced that the Daily Kos community and readers can make a huge difference in this man’s life.
Don Filiberto is seventy-three years old and lives alone with his cat, Rayos, in the home he has loved for the past 60 years. I still don’t know how he survived the hurricane in that house as the eye passed directly over his head. He’s lost every possession he once had, all sucked out when the winds ripped off his roof, and he remains without power or water since the beginning of this crisis. When we arrived the only food he had was a single box of rations that FEMA has just delivered to him the previous day and 2 unopened cases of bottled water. The neglect of so many lives on this island is almost unbearable.
The most amazing thing, however, was that he was still in good spirits and greeted us with a huge smile, welcoming two complete strangers into what was left of his home.
In the past four-and-a-half months Don Feliberto has only had two visits by the city work crew and one by FEMA. He has no working phone and has been completely cut off with no communication — it took us a good half-hour to convince him it was Thursday and not Monday. He had no idea what time of day it was and it even took him a few minutes to remember his own birthday. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s been like for him, a senior citizen with multiple health problems surviving on his own for four-and-a-half-months in the dark. Constantly running through my head was, “this could be my parents, my grandparents” and I was devastated and furious at the same time. For as long as I live I’ll never forget when he finally broke down and it all came pouring out. Like I told Denise Oliver Velez on the phone while we were on the way home, it’s like this nightmare just won’t end. Again, she had to talk me down from letting my emotions overwhelm me. The suffering and injustice are too much to adequately describe with words.
I’m grateful that the city has sent workers to put strips of wood and a tarp on what’s left of the roof, but, they’ve had to come 2 times because the tarps begin leaking almost immediately. The blue hue inside is very familiar, but I can’t ever get used to the emotions that it provokes – the filtered light is almost like a shroud that makes the sadness inside even worse. I really don’t know how else to explain it.
At our Daily Kos Meetup we made a beautiful connection with Michelle Ukulele and Mia Maldonado and they enthusiastically volunteered to join us in our efforts — they were amazing. Michelle is the volunteer civilian coordinator of NGO responses on the island and she brought Don Feliberto a donated queen-size air mattress along with clean sheets and pillows. Now he doesn’t have to struggle getting up off the floor where he was sleeping on a moldy mattress with no bed frame. She also brought him donated food, water, a camp shower and new batteries for his flashlight. Great news is that through her connections she has secured a new 7 h.p. gas powered water pump for his well!!! Like I said, she’s amazing. I feel blessed to have crossed paths with someone so dedicated to our recovery.
Gerardo, Michelle and I completely lost it when after setting up his new bed, Don Feliberto told us through tears, “you’ve made me feel like a millionaire”. It was an emotional visit.
Here’s Michelle, Don Feliberto and Mia. Mia is on the island to help with relief efforts and film a documentary on ordinary citizens making a difference. So proud to have met her!
Our efforts began with 2 work crews, one taking on the challenge of cutting our way down an overgrown “path” to the well, and the second crew had cleanup detail at the house.
I joined Michelle and Franco on the “machete crew” clearing a path through the overgrown forest to Don Feliberto’s well and his only source of water, with Don Feliberto himself joining us because he was the only one who knew where the well was located! He definitely gave us much needed lessons in using the machetes… even at 73 years old he could cut through a 4” downed limb with only 2 swings! Unfortunately, we only made it about a quarter-mile down the old trail before we started losing light so there’s a lot of work left to do. We still have about an eighth of a mile to go to reach the well which is his only source of water, and then we’ll have to run about 2000’ of new PVC pipes back to the house because they were destroyed by the uprooted and downed trees, but, we’ll definitely get there. İPa’lante!
Back at the house Chris, Gerardo and Mia worked hard on cleaning up the huge amount of debris left by Maria and they all did an incredible job. By the time the rest of us made our way back up the mountainside the place looked so much better.
The crew up at the house was also in charge of the inspection (Gerardo is a FEMA inspector recently, and unexpectedly, released from his deployment on the island) and they took all the measurements needed so we can start replacing the roof, windows, doors, wiring, kitchen…
Although long and exhausting, it was an incredible day at Don Feliberto’s and we stayed working until the sun went down, the rain started and the coquis started singing.
Regardless of what we accomplished, these partings are always so bittersweet — happy and proud, and absolutely heartbreaking that we had to leave Don Feliberto in the dark again. Soon we’ll be able to leave him with the lights on — and thanks to this amazing community that day will be this Sunday!!! We’re buying a generator, fuel and extension cords and will be going back to Utuado with a wonderful surprise for Don Feliberto. Everyone here should take pride in this small, but very significant, step forward. Luz y progreso!
Regardless of the challenges in front of us, we’re ready to get to work. Of course, rebuilding an entire home was impossible during the one day that Chris was here with us, but, Gerardo, Franco and I have made a solemn vow to Don Feliberto that we’ll never abandon him. We’ll be spending many, many weekends in the mountains doing our best to lift Don Feliberto up and restore his home the best we can, and we really need your help to make it happen. By the time Chris returns in June I’m determined he will find an incredible transformation at Don Feliberto’s in Utuado. I know we can do this!
Right now there are immediate needs that really must be met and I’m humbly asking for your support.
We need a generator and continuing fuel supply for Don Feliberto so he can finally have lights again until the “powers that be” reach his home and restore electricity. The Director of Emergency Management could not confirm for us when power will finally be restored, and a new hurricane season is quickly approaching. This is all so unbelievable.
He desperately needs a functioning refrigerator and gas stove so he can once again keep food in the house and cook for himself.
Don Filiberto needs a proper bed. With all the destruction everywhere we looked, seeing his “bed” hit me harder than anything else. As I mentioned above, he has been sleeping on a mattress covered in mold directly on the concrete floor because Maria washed away every single tile in the house. I’m so thankful for the top-of-the-line air mattress provided by Michelle, but, it’s not a permanent solution, especially not for a senior citizen in poor health.
He needs clothes, 34”W x 30”L, medium shirts and underwear, socks, size 10 shoes – everything he has is covered in mold, even the clothes he was wearing when we met.
He needs every household item imaginable because he has nothing left.
When I tell you the devastation, as well as his abandonment up to this point, was complete, I am not exaggerating in the least. Though it broke my heart for Chris to see such destruction, I appreciate beyond words that he had the determination to see this with his own eyes and put his back into working for Don Feliberto’s recovery.
I know this is a lot to ask of my friends here at Daily Kos, I’m only hoping we can rise to the challenge and do our best. As I mentioned, Chris will be returning to the island in June and I’m determined to do us all proud by the time he arrives again.
It was suggested that I put together an Amazon “Wish List” so HERE IT IS!
There are shipping restrictions with Amazon so it can only be small items, but anything will be deeply appreciated.
For those wishing to donate funds to our continuing efforts please Kosmail me for details. So many of our immediate needs can only be supported by cash donations – food, water, fuel for generators, building supplies, paying experienced construction help even if it’s only gas money and lunch – we just couldn’t do this for Don Feliberto without your help.
Thanks from the heart for everyone who has already supported Puerto Rico’s recovery, and I hope that you find our efforts for Don Feliberto a worthy cause. Perhaps he’ll be only the first of many that the Daily Kos community “adopts” as we work together to rebuild Puerto Rico.
Please know that those of us here on the island will never give up – let the White House abandon us completely, we couldn’t care less. We will rise no matter what.
Sending my love,
Bobby
Please help us make Don Feliberto’s house a home again