#GiftRain: How YOU can help others during the COVID-19 crisis, Give the gift of water!

Since we were unable to have Agua Unida this year, we encourage you to "Give the Gift of Rain" if you are able to. Especially during this time, many families around the world are unable to wash their hands and prevent the spread of COVID-19 because they don't have access to clean water. Isla Urbana is hosting the #GiftRain campaign which is running throughout the month of May to alleviate the situation, and Tuesday, May 5 is #GivingTuesdayNow in which you are encouraged to donate whatever you can (money, time, anything else) to nonprofits internationally.

I am including some flyers and infographics along with a video about the campaign below. In addition, please read the letter below to learn more.

Social Media:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/islaurbana/, Twitter @islaurbana, Instagram @islaurbana, www.islaurbana.org/english

#GiftRain, #GivingTuesdayNow, #Unselfie

How to Donate:

Through our website: http://islaurbana.org/english/

Campaign page: http://islaurbana.org/english/giftraincampaign/

Paypal: http://paypal.me/islaurbanafund

Venmo (https://venmo.com/): Isla-Urbana

Dear UNHP Class of 2022,

During this time of COVID-19, I see that many of us are facing various challenges. The crisis has also presented unexpected hardships for nonprofits around the world that work with vulnerable communities. As many of you know, I have been involved with Isla Urbana through my participation in JWAC. Today, I ask you to join me in supporting their work to get clean water to families in Mexico through their #GiftRain campaign launching on Tuesday, May 5th on #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving.

In order to wash hands effectively, a person requires at least 4 gallons of water every day. But, what happens when a person does not have regular access to clean water? Globally, 1.1 billion people suffer from water scarcity, making them more vulnerable to this pandemic. In Mexico, some families live on less than 10 gallons of water per day for all of their needs, meaning that they lack sufficient water for basic purposes like dishwashing and flushing toilets, much less for frequent handwashing.

For the past 10 years, Isla Urbana has provided clean water to over 121,140 individuals through rainwater harvesting, which gives families the ability to independently access high quality water. For families in urban areas, it results in anywhere from 6-9 months of clean water a year, and in rural areas, this can be up to 12 months! Now, more than ever, it is essential to have access to clean and abundant water sources to protect against coronavirus.

Right now, $15 gives a family of 6 a month’s supply of clean water (190 gallons of rainwater) for handwashing. Isla Urbana’s goal is to reach 1,000 individuals, and I hope they surpass it. Please consider a donation today at www.islaurbana.org/english/giftraincampaign/.

If you can’t donate, I understand! Help me spread the word by forwarding this message to others, joining Isla Urbana on their social media pages, sharing their posts and asking others to get involved. Thank you in advance. Let’s come together to help others with the gift of rain!

Sincerely,

Mrigayu Ghosh (MG)