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Lawrenceburg Spanish teacher organizes help for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico

94 views · Published 20 October 2017 · 2:52 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2017 · News & Politics

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LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (WKRC) - While her "Spanish 2" students practiced their dialogue in pairs, Lawrenceburg High School teacher Evelyn Santiago relayed a conversation she had a few days ago with her mother in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

“She said she’s never seen anything like it. She will be 80 in a few months and she’s devastated,” Santiago said fighting back tears. 

Santiago grew up in Ponce in the southern part of the island. Her mother, sister and nephew survived Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, but they are still without power and water. 

Her mother and nephew are diabetic and need to keep their insulin refrigerated. They tell her that little help has arrived in Ponce so Santiago decided to take action herself.

“I just thought that if they’re in the dark, maybe we can get flashlights and batteries to the island. Ship them somehow. So that’s how everything started.” She enlisted the help of Lawrenceburg’s Spanish Club. They solicited donations. Flashlights and batteries trickled in. After a few days, Lawrenceburg Athletic Department assistant Judy Reese decided to solicit help via social media. Things took off.

“I started getting posts back saying, ‘What can I do to help?’,” said Reese. “I had an attorney bring in giant bags of dog food. I had a mother who home schooled her children bring in diapers. I had a lady who could barely walk bring in 3 boxes of clothes and water.”

The Lawrenceburg Lions chipped in $200 to help with shipping. The school’s French Club and student council kicked in money, too. Within days, the Spanish Club went from soliciting donations to packing boxes.

“We were able to ship, so far, 13 boxes,” said Santiago while the Spanish Club packed more boxes in her classroom. “Batteries, flashlights, canned goods, soap and shampoo. The basic needs. The things that they need.”

Evelyn Santiago is grateful for all the support and the lesson she was able to teach her students. She says the people in Ponce are still in desperate need of bottled water, personal care items and canned food. 

If you’d like to help, she asks that you contact her at [email protected]

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