From the Desk of Don Guardian, Mayor Emeritus Atlantic City, Past Rotary District 7640 Governor

There is a bit of irony that Puerto Rico’s value ever since Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage in 1493 was that it was one of the first land mass to offer European travelers access to clean fresh water. Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in 1898 after the Spanish- American War. After Hurricane Maria, eight months ago, we are traveling to Puerto Rico to bring the residents clean drinking water.

Eight months after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, much of the island remains devastated. Now if you have vacationed in the past few months in Isla Verde, Condado or old town San Juan, you would return with the feeling that everything is fine. Simply travel to the higher elevations in San Juan or Caguas and you would see a different story. Electricity was restored less than a month ago to habitable homes while other homes are condemned and abandoned. Water was restored but is not safe in many areas. Gastrointestinal problems are rampant, street and roads have collapsed with many sewer pipes now damaged and open to the street. In some neighborhoods, next to nearly every home’s mailbox on the street is a government issued rattrap. Homes have walls and floors but no roofing – rather a tarp that would remind you of a tent at the scout camp of your youth.

Six Rotarians from Atlantic City and Ocean City raised funds to purchase clean water filters. The team traveled to Puerto Rico at their own expense to assemble and deliver 137 water filtration systems to individual homes. Families and neighborhood leaders were trained on the filter use and maintenance, providing over 1000 residents with clean water. Jorge Coromac, a Rotarian from Kansas City led efforts with our partner organization Woodland Public Charity as well as local neighborhood leaders in Puerto Rico.

As Mayor Emeritus of Atlantic City, our team met with Caguas Mayor William Torres who is dealing with not just the loss of homes and basis services but residents leaving the island for jobs in the states and doctors and nurses leaving at the rate of 2 per day at a time when they are most needed. One resident, Daniel Garcia traveled one and a half hours to obtain a water filtration system and told us he felt like he was in Dorothy’s house in the Wizard of Oz. Daniel opened the door of his home in the mountains the day after the hurricane to see the entire horizon changed. Trees that were in sight for 40 years were gone. Some homes disappeared with only driveways remaining. Other homes that he never saw before appeared. He described for the first time “winter in Puerto Rico” with no leaves on the trees – surely a winter of discontent for this beautiful island. One member of our group was a Veteran from the Vietnam era who cried with Puerto Rican Vets of the same time era as he brought fresh water. I could not help think about Shakespeare’s analogy of a Band of Brothers among those that fought beside each other.

Were Puerto Ricans hostile as Americans that it took eight months for them to have drinking water? Not at all. A grateful people in some cases suggesting that every home did not need a filter since there were only 6 or 8 people in each home and two or three homes could share a filter so more people would have access to clean water. Each unit can filter up to 300 gallons per day. Along the way, seniors called out for a filter but were unable to come to the door because they were physically unable to walk and did not have a walker. But my cellphone pinged from my job as Business Administrator in Toms River with the regular issues: sand on the steps of the boardwalk, demands for parking on Rte. 35 while we repaved so they would not be inconvenienced, street barricades that were placed during the weekend rain storm that had not been removed quick enough, trash that a resident had to pick up in a new parking lot. I could not help but think it’s good to be in America – New Jersey that is not the Commonwealth and how good God has been to us and the very different needs I needed to provide in my municipality compared to the mayor of Caguas.

So you want to do something? The entire filtration system that can handle 300 gallons a day for 20 years costs $50. It is a sustainable low-tech gravity powered solution filtering water to 0.1 micron. It filters out 99.9999% of all bacteria and 99.9% of all waterborne diseases – meeting and exceeding EPA clean water recommendations. No electricity is required. To sponsor one or more filters, please mail your check to:

Ocean City Rotary Charities, Inc.

PO Box 1187

Ocean City, NJ  08226

If you want to volunteer for 5 days – the cost for airfare, dormitory style sleeping arrangements and food is under $1000. If you want to help contact our Rotary District Clean Water Chair – Ted Lands at Ted_Lands@hotmail com. This is Rotarian Don Guardian signing off and grateful to be back in South Jersey.

Woodland Public Charity is a nonprofit organization registered in Kansas City MO since 2002 and implements projects and programs in Kansas City, Central and South America. By engaging local volunteers and establishing strong partnership with humanitarian organizations, Woodland is able to provide relief to the ones most in need. Woodland engages local and international volunteers to implement the Access to Education, Health and Safe Drinking Waters in countries in Central and South America. To learn how to support Woodland Puerto Rico Relief projects or to become a volunteer contact:  jorgec@woodlandcharity.org.    Please visit: www.woodlandcharity.org/

Rotary International is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end. Please visit: www.rotary.org