The Hermiston Altrusa Club along with the city of Hermiston, local businesses and students in the Hermiston area are taking part in a different kind of fundraiser.
Instead of raising money for themselves, they are raising money for people they will likely never meet, who live in places they will likely never visit, and whose life challenges they will likely never experience. Starting April 16, for two weeks, participants will take part in a program known as The Water Challenge. A fun kick-off event is planned at McKenzie Park in Hermiston from noon to 2 p.m. on April 16 that includes sign-ups, wrist bands and an obstacle course. This fundraiser benefits people in Africa who don’t have access to a sustainable water supply.
The Altrusa Club is also distributing the book, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, throughout the area and local schools.
“This book is what really got our group motivated to help bring clean water to those communities in Africa that are in need,” said Stephanie Hughes, the Hermiston Altrusa International Relations Committee Chair. The books can be found at the Hermiston City Library, Cottage Flowers, Hermiston Drug and the local school libraries. Kristi Smalley, Hermiston Elementary Schools Librarian, is heading up a writing contest for students grades 3-5 with prizes for the top essays, as well.
The Water Challenge asks participants to forgo all non-water beverages for two weeks and divert that money from personal consumption to a donation to the work of The Water Project. The premise is simple; 1+1=1 One Promise: One Band: One Life. Participants wear a special wristband, drink tap or filtered water instead of spending money at coffee shops or soda machines, and donate what they would have spent. In other words, no money has to be pulled from savings or contributed by other people; money is simply re-purposed.
The Goal? Each participant raises enough to bring clean water to one person – or about $23.
The Water Project will use the donations to fund the building and repair of wells, sand dams and other water technologies in sub-Saharan countries of Africa where clean and safe water is often scarce. The Water Project goes beyond technology and financial assistance by including sanitation and hygiene education, community mobilization and following up with every site.
A few weeks after The Hermiston Altrusa Club submit their funds to The Water Project, they will be assigned to a specific project that their funds will support. The Club will then be able to follow that community through photos, GPS coordinates, and field reports as they progress through mobilization, training and building of their project. The Club will also post updates on their Facebook page so the community can follow the project as well.
For more information on the Hermiston Altrusa Water Challenge fundraiser or to make donations please contact Stephanie Hughes at 541-720-9769. You can also make donations directly online. The group is also planning an event for April 30 at McKenzie Park for participants to celebrate and turn in their donations. For more information about The Water Project go online, call 1-800-460-8974 or email info@thewaterproject.org.
