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Dear Colleagues,
Earlier this month, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, we sent a note encouraging you to gather your school community and determine how you could help support our fellow Americans in Texas and Louisiana. Sadly - almost unbelievably - the devastation continues on multiple fronts. In September alone, we have seen the incalculable destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Irma in Florida and the Caribbean, and the earthquake in Mexico City. Lives, businesses, and property have been lost - in some cases, forever.
The Board of Regents and the New York State Education Department are deeply concerned about the mounting scope of these tragedies and what it means, in particular, for the schoolchildren in the impacted areas. We know that our State, our schools, and the entire education community have a history of pulling together and providing support to communities in crisis, near and far.
In that spirit, we ask you, once again, to pull your school communities together to see how you can best help. In doing so, you will not only be aiding those in desperate need, but you will also be teaching your students important lessons about empathy, compassion, civic responsibility, and leadership. These are some of the most important and meaningful lessons we will ever impart on our children.
One idea is to start a donation drive of school supplies, clothing, household goods and personal care items to donate to local communities in the impacted areas.
Following are some other suggested places and ways to contribute.
Hurricane Maria:
- The Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort for Puerto Rico. This effort, sanctioned by the State of New York, brings together a wide range of civic, business and industry partners to provide needed services, goods and funds to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild, and provides opportunities for New Yorkers to contribute to the relief efforts.
- New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. On Saturday, September 30, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization will host a Donation Drive for Puerto Rico & Mexico to help the victims of Hurricane Maria (as well as victims of the earthquake in Mexico City).
Hurricane Irma:
- American Red Cross. The organization is providing shelters for those displaced by Irma and it has thousands of volunteers on the ground there. You can learn more and donate on the American Red Cross Disaster webpage.
- United Way of Miami-Dade. One of the major local nonprofits that will be working on Irma recovery. You can learn more and donate on the United Way of Miami-Dade webpage.
Mexican Earthquake:
We anticipate that families from these devastated areas, and their school-aged children, may relocate to New York in the coming weeks and months. The Department stands ready to help you with this process, so please look for further communication from us about this important issue.
Two final points: (1) If you know of any large, effective relief efforts not mentioned in this note, please let us know and we will work to get the word out about those efforts, and (2) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has cautioned New Yorkers to donate through trusted organizations - so please make sure to always follow that advice.
It is truly heartwarming to see the support offered by the education community to those in need in times of crisis and we thank in advance for your efforts.
Betty A. Rosa
Chancellor, Board of Regents
MaryEllen Elia
Commissioner, NY State Education Department
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