Flint is in need, and Scouts are answering the call.
The state of Michigan put out a plea for bottled water to help residents in the town of Flint, where more than 100,000 people’s health is at risk after high levels of lead were detected in the city’s water supply.
President Obama has declared a state of emergency, and Scouts in the Michigan Crossroads Council are stepping up to help fellow members of their community.
You can help, too.
The service project is called Scouting for Water. From noon to 7 p.m. on Feb. 26, every Scout Shop in Michigan will become a drop-off location for cases of bottled water and gallon jugs.
The council urges Scouts to encourage family, friends and colleagues to donate to the Flint community.
The next day, Feb. 27, Scouts and volunteers will gather at the Flint Scout Shop to load their cars and help deliver water to the doorsteps of residents, some of whom — like the elderly, disabled and those without transportation — are struggling to acquire safe water for themselves and their families.
If you’re not a Michigan Scout or Scouter, there’s still a way to help. Contact Kerrie Mitchell, public relations director for the Michigan Crossroads Council at Kerrie.Mitchell@scouting.org for more information.
Thanks to a reader tip, we’ve already heard about one council’s plans to help out — despite being 600-plus miles away. New York’s Westchester-Putnam Council is responding by collecting unopened cases of bottled water and gallon jugs of water during its own “Water for Flint” Good Turn. New York volunteers will drive and deliver the donations to Michigan before the Feb. 27 distribution.
Additionally, the Michigan Crossroads Council is considering a recycling initiative led by Scouts later in the spring. Find updates on michiganscouting.org.
Does your unit plan to help Flint? We want to hear about it in the comments below.
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