Students haul water for international charity

First-year Madeline Kirch was strolling across Polk Place in search of a hot cup of coffee — until a different kind of drink caught her attention.

After reading a poster near Polk Place saying that one out of six people in the world lack access to clean water, she volunteered to haul a plastic, Carolina blue container up and down the Lower Quad in support of “charity: water,” a national organization that drills clean-water wells in Third-World countries.

Kirch was one of 16 student volunteers whose efforts were rewarded with a $5 donation to the organization by Grace Church in Chapel Hill.

“Physically, it was taxing,” said Kirch, an exercise and sport science major from Hershey, Pa. “Emotionally, it felt bad because I’m a privileged person on this beautiful campus and you could just imagine the strife of the people.”

Campus Connection, the student-run college ministry of Grace Church, sponsored the “water walk.” It aimed to raise awareness of the worldwide lack of access to safe, clean drinking water. The church pledged to match all funds raised for the organization.

This year, charity: water has focused most of its activities on Ethiopia, trying to make water clean and convenient for the landlocked country’s people. The organization has constructed 333 wells so far, said Kendrick Vinar, Grace Church’s senior pastor.

According to the charity: water Web site, 1.1 billion people lack a consistent supply of clean water, and 42,000 die from water-related sicknesses each week, 90 percent of whom are children under age five.

The Web site also says women and children in Third-World countries are at an increased risk for sexual harassment and assault, as dry seasons require them to travel farther to find a water source.

“I definitely could not imagine doing this every day,” said Alana Prettitore after she hauled two containers. “I’m on the drumline here, and I did gymnastics, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

The first-year biology and German double major added that the experience made her want to get involved with charity: water.

DeWayne Watson, the church’s family life pastor, said the modest financial gains were of little concern. He said the main goal was to raise awareness through pamphlets and dialogue.

“We purposefully connected with 5,000 people and accidentally made $200 for charity: water,” Watson said.

Youth pastor Jeremy Gwaltney said a positive outcome of Monday’s event was to prepare Campus Connection for future awareness drives.

“In retail, there is what’s called a soft launch and a grand opening,” he said. “This was our soft launch. We’ve gotten people interested. And those cards are almost as important as any dollar we raised.”



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.