Dear all,

From Friday, Jan. 13th through to Monday, Jan. 15th, I will be in Loíza, Puerto Rico to assist in the refurbishing of shelters that were built in response to Hurricane Maria 5 years ago.

The AESARA Foundation has formed a long-term partnership with the community of Loíza and will be taking 24 members of the AESARA Foundation family to lend a hand.

To find out more about the AESARA Foundation, donate and/or follow our journey, please use the following links:

About AESARA Foundation: www.aesara.com/foundation

To Donate: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/aesara-foundation/fundraising-2022-ready-to-renovate

To Follow: https://www.facebook.com/aesarafoundation/

We will be available on email in the early morning and late evening. If you require immediate assistance, please call my mobile.

Kind regards,

<NAME HERE >

Where do I go when I arrive?

Once you have luggage in hand, please make your way to the Rental Car Centre to meet Rachel/Sissi. Those coming in on JetBlue and/or Southwest, I believe you have to walk a little bit extra and follow the signs. For those coming in on United and/or Delta, you should see the Centre directly across the street and come out the glass doors.

Phone

For those on AT&T in the US, mobile usage in Puerto Rico is considered domestic use. For those on Telus (Canada), add ‘Roam Like Home’ to your plan. For those in the UK, check with your mobile carrier for best option.

Luggage Costs

Due to current issues with travel and baggage delays, we encourage you to bring a carry on only (if possible).

Lodging Costs

While the AESARA Foundation will be responsible for the cost of meals, transportation and work supplies, we ask that guests contribute to the cost of accommodation. Each participant will receive an invoice from Jen Kelly/ Pam Read for the accommodation, which can be paid through a donation to the AESARA Foundation (this way you will receive a receipt for tax deduction).

Incidentals

Please keep in mind that additional purchases including food, gifts, and souvenirs are at the discretion of the volunteer and are not expensable.

Project Work / Internet

Although we are conducting important work in Puerto Rico, project timelines continue to advance, and we want to make sure the client needs come first.

Internet will be available in both lodging spaces. If urgent matters come up during the time we are working, then the City Hall offices can be available to us.

Electricity

In Puerto Rico the standard voltage is 120 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in Puerto Rico, because the standard voltage (120 V) is the same as in the US and Canada.

For our team members and guests coming from Europe, please remember to bring your converters for your electrical devices.

Jewelry/Valuables

Please keep your valuables at home. We cannot guarantee that there will be safes in the lodging spaces. Nor can we guarantee that your valuables will be safe at the job site or be exposed to damage at the worksite. Less is more on this trip!

Who should I contact if I have a problem?

If you run into issues, please save the following numbers into your phone:

• Sissi Pham: +1.919.565.3377
• Rachel Black: +1.336.971.3098

If there is a medical emergency, please dial ‘911’

In addition, here are the contact details for your country embassy/consulate:

• US emergency numbers: http://www2.pr.gov/prgoven/pages/emergencyline.aspx
• Canada: +1.787.759.6629; Hato Rey Center, 268 Ponce de Leon, Suite 1111, San Juan
• UK: +1.787.567.9697

Meals

• Breakfast: Sissi/Rachel will be doing a Costsco run. The idea is to provide everyone with an assortment of items. We will accommodate any allergies/preference to the best of our ability. Refreshments (water, juices, pop) will be available. The days are long so if you require fuel at more frequent intervals, then please bring energy bars / snacks to help sustain you.
• Lunch: Lunch will be provided each day by the Municipal of Loíza.
• Dinner: Dinners are booked for each evening for all participants. See schedule above for timing/location.

Weather

http://www.weatherpr.com/ is a great site to track tropical storm development. At this time, there is a hazardous weather outlook for the next seven days. We will be monitoring the weather as we get closer to the trip and update accordingly.

Social Media Presence for AESARA Foundation

The AESARA Foundation has the following official social media platforms:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aesarafoundation/
• Instagram: search ‘aesarafoundation’ in your Instagram feed
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aesara-foundation/

Both Facebook and Instagram are linked thus, we can easily post between platforms.

Kenneth and Pam are administrators of the accounts. We will be aiming to publish 2 official posts/day. We encourage you to like & share these posts. We will look for inspiration from the team to come up with these posts.

In addition, we want to encourage folks to post directly on the Foundation FB and Instagram sites as well as your own personal accounts on FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Please use tags like @aesarafoundation on Instagram or ‘AESARA Foundation’ on Facebook. # are welcome as well!

Let’s have fun with it but keep it classy Please be mindful of the content you publish.

If you want style advice on what filters to use or angles for the best photo, please seek out our style guru Kenneth Wu.