United Way Donates Funds to Help with Bottled Water Needs in Flint

April 11, 2018 (Flint, Mich) – On April 7, 2018, following the MDEQ release of water quality data, the State of Michigan announced the discontinued resource of bottled water for Flint residents. The United Way of Genesee County (UWGC) believes everyone has a right to clean safe drinking water. The most sustainable and long-lasting source for Flint residents to access clean safe water, until all the pipes are replaced, is sink filter usage.  The United Way encourages residents to contact Community Outreach Resident Education (CORE) at 810.238.6700 for filter replacement needs and maintenance education.

While the UWGC encourages the use of filters, it also recognizes many residents rely on bottled water as their clean water source. Therefore, beginning April 9, 2018 the UWGC will use all funds raised through its Flint Water Fund for the purchase and distribution of bottled water. Currently the fund has nearly $55,000 to begin this support. The United Way will use 100% of these funds and future funds raised for this purpose with no administrative fee assessed.

“The UWGC can in no way sustain bottled water support for the entire City of Flint as was done by the state of Michigan,” said James Gaskin, United Way CEO. “During the last six months the state of Michigan was spending, on average, over $650,000 on water alone. This figure does not include staff, warehousing or other logistics.”

The UWGC hopes to provide a handful of semi-trucks of water per week to help residents most in need. Purchased water will be delivered to the three community Help Centers – Greater Holy Temple, Asbury United Methodist and Bethel United Methodist – via the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The Help Centers are planning a grand re-opening on April 16. It will take a while for water trucks to be sourced and delivered to the Help Centers. Once sourced, the Food Bank will establish specific dates water will be available at the Help Centers until funds have been expended.

Since October 2015, the UWGC has raised $4,556,515 for the Flint Water Crisis and expended $4,502,824. How the UWGC has expended these funds can be found on www.flintcares.com/money.

Monetary Donations

The United Way of Genesee County is accepting monetary donations for the purchase and distribution of bottled water. 100% of these funds are used for these projects and no administrative fee is assessed.  Donations can be done either by:

• Online at www.unitedwaygenesee.org, click the DONATE button. This will then provide a choice to designate to the Water Fund.
• Checks mailed to:
  • United way of Genesee County
  • P.O. Box 949
  • Flint, MI 48501
  • Memo line: Water Fund

Bottled Water Donation

Donations of bottled water can be delivered to the following locations:

• Large Donations (pallets only):
  Food Bank of Eastern Michigan – 2300 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503. 810-239-4441.
  * Please call 810.239.4441, prior to making delivery
• Smaller Donations (non-pallets), can be delivered to one of the following locations:
  • Veterans of NOW, 608 W. Court St., Flint, MI 48503
  • NOW Ministries, 1200 Stocker Ave., Flint, MI 48503
  • Second Chance Church, 1950 Burr Blvd., Flint, MI 48503
  • Prince of Peace, 1417 Stevenson St., Flint, MI 48504
  • Salem Lutheran Church, 2610 Martin Luther King Ave., Flint, MI 48505

Courtesy: Genesee County United Way

Contacts:
James Gaskin
CEO, United Way of Genesee County
810-240-0297

Jamie-Lee Venable
Director of Impact, United Way of Genesee County
810-516-9455

About The United Way of Genesee County: Founded in 1922, United Way of Genesee County currently supports more than 150 programs with direct grants, helping more than 85,000 people in Genesee County. The agency’s investment model is based on Education, Health, Financial Stability and Basic Needs.