- February 7, 2025
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The Volusia County School District has rallied area schools together to collect money for the people of Puerto Rico and has been able to bring in $28,276.51 to aid in relief efforts after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria hit the island.
Throughout October, students, parents and staff contributed to the school district’s initiative, United for Puerto Rico Relief Effort, with suggested donations of $1.
The fundraiser had originally been slated to run for two weeks but as schools were continuing to give, the deadline was extended.
The total will be given to the United for Puerto Rico organization, which was created by the governor’s wife, Beatriz Rosselló, in collaboration with the private sector.
"We have some history in helping others, and a lot of that stemmed from 2004 when Volusia was hit by that string of hurricanes," Robert Edgcomb, Volusia County Schools Community Information Services specialist, said. "We found ourselves with others wanting to help us, so this is our opportunity to start giving back, and we've just continued that through the years."
The school district has also provided aid to countries such as Indonesia and Haiti. Nearly $39,000 was collected for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort.
When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana, the district raised $700 to give to the American Red Cross.
When a tsunami barreled across the Indian Ocean in late December 2014, and Hurricane Katrina caused widespread devastation in August 2005, the district collected almost $60,000 for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Additionally, $117,000 was collected and matched by an anonymous donor with the total being sent to the American Red Cross for the victims of New Orleans.
Residents had been spreading the word and sharing their fundraising efforts on Twitter using the hashtag #VCStogetherwecan.
In mid October, FEMA estimated there would be 10 million liters of bottled water and 18 million shelf-stable meals arriving in Puerto Rico throughout the following week. According to a FEMA update, more than 140,000 homes in Puerto Rico had been in need of some kind of repair after the hurricane.
"We are just so appreciative of everybody's willingness to give and to just make this a reality," Edgcomb said. "We appreciate everybody who took the time to give, and we're just moved by what we saw from this."
For more information on United for Puerto Rico, visit UnitedforPuertoRico.com.
