Please, just get us the water...

Location of new water distribution site in Flint. Notice the environmental hazard...

Things are getting frustrating in Flint. There is still a water emergency. I am told that the brethren church where we are distributing water is in a neighborhood that is still testing very high for lead – and the average tests for the city are showing that the lead level is still at 23 parts per billion (ppb) when the federal action level is 15ppb. A lot of folks are still unable to use the filters distributed by the State that allow for tap water to be used for drinking. And, to top it off – we are having a really hard time getting water delivered to us.

For two consecutive weeks, First Church of the Brethren and NOW Ministries have not received water until after 4pm, when our volunteers are supposed to be done for the day. Last Thursday, we did not receive any water at all. This Tuesday, we only received 10 of 15 pallets of water. This Wednesday, we only received half-pallets. We are often told that there is no way to tell when we will receive delivery, because the Food Bank has to deliver food to folks first, of course.

We were getting water on time and distributing 15 pallets a day, three days a week. But recently, the state has stopped sending trucks and drivers to help with distribution. It seems the state want to save money by making Flint citizens go to the new government operated points of distribution for all of there needs. While it is nice of government to operate water distribution sites to assist in rectifying the mistakes it made, there are all sorts of problems here.

First, the government distribution sites are limited to a specific number of sites, so, folks are reliant on transportation to those sites. Also, it seems these government sites limit the number of cases of water they will distribute. Remember, folks are cooking and bathing with bottled water. Also, they should not have to drive to a distribution site any number of times a week when they can get as many cases as they need for a week at a church distribution site.

It gets worse. Some of the new points of distribution are located on the same property as deteriorated buildings. This in itself is a health hazard, as the mold, rodents, broken glass, and other potentially dangerous scenarios are inherent in bringing families to such locations. Pierson Rd. Flint Water Distribution Site The other promised distribution sites are not yet open, so the transition is not only going slow, but it seems as though is trying to cut the level of resources that it will make available.

There is a reason that we need water to distribute at 1200 Stocker, along with the government points of distribution. First, folks do not have to travel as far to get water, and we distribute as much as they need. It angers me that everyone from the police to out-of-town volunteers are worried about how many cases of water people need. Very, VERY, few folks are getting one over on the state or anyone else. There are a lot of folks without cars, and elderly folks that can't drive or even lift the cases of water. Naturally, there are people driving up for water that want ten to twenty cases because they are picking up for several families. Many cars are picking up water for families of ten or more people. If you think this is far-fetched, the house across the street has that many folks living in it.

We have provided cases of water for immigrant families, or, the representative of immigrant families, who have access to just one vehicle one day a week, and cannot speak English well. There is also a fear that immigration authorities may get suspicious of families that appear to be undocumented, or may in fact be undocumented. There are many immigrant families that cannot access services necessary to navigate through the water emergency. They are learning to trust the church.

Just as importantly, we are now distributing more than water. To help eradicate the effects of lead, and to contribute to the development of the youth on our block, for two consecutive weeks the church has been providing dinner to more than eight children and a few mothers. Many children on our block, and two whole families, are volunteering with water distribution. We are getting fresh fruit and chicken to these families, and cooking it as needed. Our neighborhood is coming together around the water distribution, and this is how Flint is going to recover – by helping raise healthy children and families in a city where land owners are charging less than $300 monthly to rent homes at this point, and vacancies are climbing. Having church doors open to the neighborhood four days a week to distribute water, fruit and meat, diapers and sanitary wipes, and so many other things, can only help the neighborhood near Ballenger and Corunna to be one that can thrive in the future.

We have the folks to do this who are willing to work very cheap, or volunteer, and help in driving Flint forward, but we need resources – most of all – water delivered on time. And, we need money.

https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/BaptizedbyFlint