Lin-Manuel Miranda, among numerous other celebrities, is relentlessly continuing his hurricane relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and continues to advocate for others to do the same.
During a powerful open letter explaining why it is extremely urgent that people come to the aid of Puerto Rico, much like they have for those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the multi-talented playwright shares his family’s own story to “give just a glimpse of what our island is going through.”
In a new guest column posted on The Hollywood Reporter, the Hamilton creator explains how his family was personally impacted by the storm’s devastation, in hopes that others will share their own stories and help inspire others to get involved as soon as possible.
“There’s no shortage of stories about the devastation experienced in my beloved Puerto Rico in the past week,” Miranda writes. “From the children still searching for signs of their parents, to the families who’ve lost everything but one another, to those displaced from the only homes they’ve ever known — Hurricane Maria’s collision with Puerto Rico has been the most brutal in the island’s modern history, leaving a destroyed power grid and unprecedented destruction in its wake.”
He then continues, showcasing how even though his late grandfather’s home is in pieces (sharing that he used to work on musicals during summer breaks from college there), his family “was very lucky” in that they were able to seek refuge from the storm in his uncle’s concrete home across the street.
Following the storm’s devastation, the U.S. territory is experiencing a severe, life-threatening and ongoing crisis, facing a slew of problems ranging from a lack of running water to the island still being without electrical power. The situation continues to escalate, with Donald Trump facing immense criticism for his delayed response and overall lack of concern.
“I tell you my family’s story to give you just a glimpse of what our island is going through,” Miranda explains. “There are 3.4 million stories on this island, all struggling in the aftermath of this storm, and they need your help.”
During his personal plea and call-to-action, Miranda spells out how others can get involved, calling on others to donate to the Hispanic Federation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
Take a look at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s passionate and urgent essay in full here. Please visit the Hispanic Federation online for more information on how to donate.