Thomson Reuters
The effort is part of the One America Appeal campaign. Anyone can donate online, and funds will go to United for Puerto Rico and The Fund for the Virgin Islands, which are providing food, water, medical supplies and care, clothing, social services, and other resources to hurricane victims.
The One America Appeal launched earlier in September after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit the US Gulf Coast. Barack Obama announced via Twitter Tuesday that the campaign is expanding to include Puerto Rico and the USVI.
The One America Appeal is a collaboration between former Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter.
President Donald Trump will visit Puerto Rico and the USVI next Tuesday to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which killed at least 16 people, destroyed neighborhoods, and left approximately 3.4 million people without power. Victims are also facing shortages of basic resources, like food and water.
"Everybody has said it's amazing the job that we've done in Puerto Rico," Trump said during a Rose Garden press conference Tuesday. "We're very proud of it. . . . This was a place that was destroyed. I think we've done a very good job."
The conference was held amid growing criticism that Trump had not mentioned Puerto Rico or the USVI for several days.
We're expanding our efforts to help Puerto Rico & the USVI, where our fellow Americans need us right now. Join us at https://t.co/o5oCWOtiJS https://t.co/L2xArjc9N7
- Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 26, 2017