Organizers of a collection to send water to Flint, Michigan drew an overwhelming response from the community yesterday.
"Water that is currently running in their sinks, in their tubs and in their hospitals is orange,” said Olivia West of a group that calls itself ‘Champions of Change’. “It has high levels of lead from the metal from the pipes, and so, we just wanted to help, because no one should be subjected to those kinds of water conditions."
Olivia West told WXXI her boys Jeremiah, 10, and Joshua, 8, couldn't believe the discolored water was from an American city.
"The boys saw the orange water and they said, 'Mom, it's a good thing we live in America.' I said, sweetie, this is America. This is about six hours from our doorstep. And they said nooo. I said yes, and they said we want to help."
They asked the community to donate, and found a way to get the water to Flint. So many people responded there were lines to the collection point at Advantage Credit Union on Mt. Hope Avenue, including Harold and Renee Butler of Rochester.
"We donated water to the people of Detroit (Flint) who are in need,” said Harold. “My wife and I are always willing to help out, and we share what we've got."
Sebert Lynch of Rochester said he stopped at Wegmans to buy water to donate and he wasn’t the only one doing that.
"I'm dropping off some water. Them people need us. When we need them they come to us, so they need us and we go to them. Help one another. That's all that's about."
Olivia West is proud of her boys. They call themselves “agents of change.”
"Thank you so much for the community. We thank Rochester. This would not be possible without Rochester rallying around this event. So, we thank you."
Cook Moving Systems of Buffalo provided vans for the collection, and will have its drivers deliver the water February 8. West says a church in Flint will distribute the bottles.
