AFT is gaining momentum to help “Lift Up Puerto Rico”

Publish Date: November 16, 2017 10:31 pm
Author: Texas AFT

Starting today, a new hashtag will appear prominently on the social media accounts of various celebrities and anyone else who wants to help provide clean drinking water to Puerto Rico. Lift Up Puerto Rico (#LiftUpPR) represents a grass-roots social media campaign to raise awareness and funds for Operation Agua , an initiative delivering water filtration systems across Puerto Rico. Nearly two months after Hurricane Maria, millions of residents are still without access to safe drinking water.

The campaign is fueled by a diverse group of celebrities ranging from professional athletes, models and actors, to musicians, media personalities and politicians. You can learn more about #LiftUpPR here  and donate to the cause, with all proceeds going to AFT’s Operation Agua.

Operation Agua is a special initiative launched by the American Federation of Teachers  and other nonprofits and unions immediately after AFT president Randi Weingarten visited the island and saw the devastation first-hand. What was clear is that access safe drinking water remains an urgent crisis to address in the short-term.

Since AFT launched Operation Agua, it has raised $968,000, and it’s growing every day—thanks to the generosity of donors like you. “Over the last few weeks, we’ve had dozens of schools, community groups and local unions join our Every Drop Counts Challenge to raise funds in support of Operation Agua,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “The Every Drop Counts Challenge is a powerful way to engage your communities as the holidays approach and people look for ways to have a positive effect in the world.”
Here’s what you can do to help:

While there has been some progress on the ground in Puerto Rico, the situation is still dire for millions of our citizens. Many sewage treatment plants have not been restored, so water is not reliably safe even for those with running water. And for Puerto Ricans in more remote communities, it may be months longer until they have safe water.

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