Hurricane Maria Children's Relief Fund

Hurricane Maria was the worst disaster to affect Puerto Rico since 1928. Children and families were left without electricity, drinking water, food and fuel. Nearly 15,000 people were living in shelters and all 1,113 public schools were closed. Save the Children was on the island within 96 hours. We distributed clean water, family hygiene supplies, shelter/home repair kits and solar light kits. Today, we’re still there, providing an ongoing, robust response that has benefitted more than 60,000 children and adults to date. We provide emotional support to children dealing with stress and uncertainty. Plus, our education team is working with local partners to restore programs and help ensure that children have access to learning.

Due to the scale of the destruction, Save the Children has formed a long-term response strategy. There is still so much to do. Thanks to supporters like you, Save the Children has committed to supporting the ongoing recovery of children, families and communities in Texas for two years. But we need your help. We have identified 40 communities where the needs are greatest – mostly those directly in the track of the hurricane – and we’re committed to helping more than 200,000 children and adults who live there through September of 2019.

Thousands of residents continue to live without electricity, water and sanitation. Recovery progress overall has been slow; the level of destruction is massive and families are struggling under the hardship and loss that the storm has caused. That’s why we’re committed to a 2-year strategy that includes:

• Child protection: helping children, parents and teachers build resiliency skills while supporting them to process their feelings, fears and sense of loss. We’re organizing safe places for children to gather, play and just be kids again.
• Return to learning: Many schools were damaged and closed for long periods of time, some can now only be open for part of the day. Our goal is to provide children ages 0-18 access to education, so they can continue to grow and learn.
• Nutritional support: Young children, particularly infants and toddlers, are highly vulnerable in emergencies. We’re working to promote safe feeding practices, through education sessions and breastfeeding kits, which include essential hygiene items and other supplies.

This important, lifesaving work requires additional funding. Every investment in our two-year strategy is an investment in the lives, well-being and future of children.Support the Next Phase of Our Recovery Work

• Give: Your caring gift to the Hurricane Harvey Children’s Relief Fund will support child-focused relief and recovery programs to survivors.
• Share: Spread the word in your favorite social network about how Save the Children is helping children and families on the ground.

Thanks to compassionate people like you, Save the Children is there, on the ground every day, working to provide essentials – like food and safety – to children trying to survive. Thank you!