Since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, most Puerto Ricans still have no reliable source of safe drinking water. Many have been forced to find water in contaminated streams, collect it from runoff or even drink from toxic Superfund sites. Even for those with running water, the danger is not over: Because many water treatment plants are still not operational, tap water may be tainted with raw sewage.

As we head into the holiday season, you can help by making a donation to the UFT Disaster Relief Fund to support Operation Agua, an AFT initiative that brings water purification systems to Puerto Rican families. A $30 donation is enough to provide one in-home purifier, which filters up to 24 liters of safe water per day, to a family in need.

If you wish to fundraise as a team at your school or workplace, you can make a collective donation by check. Each school that participates will receive an Operation Agua certificate. Just $150 provides in-home purifiers for five families in need; $300 provides desperately needed water for 10 families; and $5,000 can purchase a disinfectant generator that processes 150,000 gallons of water per day — enough for hundreds of people in local communities.

You may make a credit card donation or send a check payable to the UFT Disaster Relief Fund and put Operation Agua in the memo line. Mail your check to UFT Disaster Relief Fund, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.