To donate to the Flint water crisis: http://www.catholiccharitiesflint.org/donate
By Cari Ann DeLamielleure-Scott
FLINT, MICH. — Following the discovery of lead in the city of Flint’s drinking water, relief organizations have been working day and night to provide safe water to those living and working in the community.
Standing at the front of the battle is Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, which provides assistance — including counseling, substance abuse treatment, foster care and adoption services — to people in need.
Vicky Schultz, CEO of Catholic Charities, said the health and safety issues continue to be a “major crisis,” and the organization is distributing bottled water and gallons of water, as supplies allow, to families and individuals in need. Community members across the diocese are urged to provide aid in the form of monetary donations or donating cases or gallons of water.
“(Water) is a basic need we have as human beings. We’re already dealing with poverty (and) huge unemployment in the city of Flint, and now we have water that’s not suitable to drink.
“The first population we know is babies. So when people come to our Community Closet asking for diapers … we’re making sure that everyone who leaves who has a child has the gallon jugs of water,” Schultz said.
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties sits in the heart of Flint, and last fall, Schultz said the organization knew they were facing problems because the water not only changed colors but smelled foul.
“We were being told … everything was safe,” Schultz said, adding that because of what they were told, they continued to use the contaminated water to make drinks and food, increasing exposure to lead.
The organization’s three soup kitchens served over 185,000 meals last year alone, according to Chrissy Cooper, development specialist at Catholic Charities.
“It’s something I don’t think anybody expected it to be as big as it is now,” Cooper said referring to the water crisis. “Now, we’re trying to understand all the consequences, and I don’t think we have yet quite grasped everything that’s going to come out of this problem.
“We want to make sure people who want to donate know how thankful we are and the people who need the water know how to get it,” Cooper said.
When the lead scandal came to light, Catholic Charities switched to bottled and gallons of water. Filters were then installed at its facilities. Schultz said it was “disheartening” to hear the news of the lead because Catholic Charities had been working with the city and the Salvation Army to help pay citizens’ expensive water bills. Prior to the news, the charity was also assuring hundreds of clients and employees that the water was safe.
“I think we’re just very disappointed that somebody really didn’t figure this out. It took a doctor having to do a blood test,” Schultz said.
Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency for Genesee County Jan. 5, and on Jan. 12, Snyder activated the National Guard to assist with distributing supplies at established water
resource sites in the city. Schultz said the number of phone calls from people wanting to help has increased, but so have the number of calls from concerned clients.
“We’re all children of God, and we’re supposed to look out for one another,” she said.
Monetary donations may be mailed to 901 Chippewa Street, Flint, MI 48503. Monetary donations can also be made by visiting www.CatholicCharitiesFlint.org.
Bottled water is being distributed at Catholic Charities’ Center for Hope Community Closet, 517 E. Fifth Avenue in Flint. Cases or gallons of water can be dropped off at the Center for Hope location 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
For more information, call (810) 232-9950 or email givehope@ccsgc.org.