Lin-Manuel Miranda has a simple, yet emotional request: Pay attention to Puerto Rico.
In a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright called for people to donate supplies, food and money to Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
“Puerto Ricans need supplies and resources just as badly as their fellow Americans in Texas and Florida,” Miranda wrote. “And this need is magnified by their geographic isolation from the mainland.”
The “Hamilton” creator shared what his family ― including his two cousins, an aspiring veterinarian and medical student ― went through while waiting out the recent and powerful storm.
Miranda wrote of the loss of his grandfather’s “wooden dream home,” which was built by hand. He also discussed the “3.4 million stories on this island, all struggling in the aftermath of this storm, and they need your help.”
Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico, causing devastating floods and cutting off much of the island’s power and cellular service for millions of people. The storm has killed at least 16 people. according to the Los Angeles Times who has a reporter on the ground. But that number is expected to rise as rescuers reach remote areas.
Miranda has been encouraging people to donate to the nonprofit the Hispanic Federation, which is donating 100 percent of its hurricane relief fund to recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
Although Miranda said he hasn’t heard from his family since Friday, he is staying hopeful.
“Praying no news is good news,” he tweeted at a fan on Tuesday.
In his column for the Hollywood Reporter, Miranda asked people to show the victims of Maria the same amount of compassion that they did for those who were affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida.
“My late grandfather’s dream home is in pieces — the roof and the porch, gone,” Miranda wrote.
“Thankfully Noah’s Ark across the road still stands,” he added, referencing his uncle’s concrete home which held his cousin’s many animals.
“My family was very lucky,” Miranda continued.
“But they and their fellow American citizens on the island now face a host of mounting crises — a lack of running water, a shattered power grid, days without electricity and telephone service and access to the wider world.”
You can find more information on how to donate to the Hispanic Federation here. For other ways to help out with Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts, visit the link here.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.