The lethal floods that swept by way of japanese Kentucky final month left many with out entry to water. LifeStraw stepped as much as ship assist and now needs your assist to assist out.
July’s excessive rainfall precipitated widespread destruction in Kentucky, killing 37 individuals. As residents wrestle to manage and rebuild, they face a brand new downside: lack of entry to wash water.
Flooding destroyed a lot of the area’s water supply infrastructure, the Washington Put up reported, leaving many households with out entry to shelter, meals, electrical energy, or potable water.
Now, water air purifier firm LifeStraw needs your assist in aiding Kentuckians in want.
LifeStraw has already shipped greater than 3,700 particular person, family, and high-volume purifiers to the area, in line with a press launch. However organizers need to do extra.
The corporate has partnered with the USDA and grassroots efforts to ship extra filters. “Assist us attain extra households!” LifeStraw mentioned in a press launch.
LifeStraw’s $20,000 Purpose
LifeStraw has began a GoFundMe marketing campaign by way of its nonprofit, the LifeStraw Protected Water Fund.
As of Thursday, the Protected Water Fund for Kentucky — a subsidiary of the broader-reaching fund — had raised almost $8,000 from 113 donations. However LifeStraw needs to achieve a objective of $20,000 as a result of many extra individuals nonetheless want clear water.
The flooding and continued rains knocked out properties, roads, important energy traces, and water utilities in 5 counties. Many communities stay determined, utilizing springs, swimming swimming pools, and flood water for his or her water wants, LifeStraw mentioned.
Within the worst-hit areas, flooding utterly washed away water traces. It could possibly be months or longer earlier than staff can change them, and a few cities don’t even know the way they’ll pay for repairs.
In August, LifeStraw despatched a number of individuals to japanese Kentucky to distribute the filters and assist reduction efforts. That included the corporate’s CEO, Alison Hill.
“It was an emotional reminder that responding to emergencies and exhibiting up when communities are struggling for entry to protected consuming water is core to the LifeStraw staff,” Hill mentioned.
“It’s extra than simply donating and sending merchandise. It’s about working facet by facet with the group to indicate up for households, asking what they want, listening to what’s crucial to them and doing what we are able to to make it occur.”
Name for Provides
Along with cash for filters, LifeStraw has known as on companies to donate wanted provides.
The gadgets Kentucky residents most want embody tents, photo voltaic lighting, and coolers, as most households have misplaced energy and refrigeration. Different wanted provides embody children’ footwear, sleeping baggage, camp stoves, underwear, feminine hygiene merchandise, diapers, and child system.
Companies curious about donating provides to flood victims can contact LifeStraw’s Social Impression Supervisor, Tara MacDowell, at [email protected].
People curious about donating can contribute to the Protected Water Fund for Kentucky. LifeStraw added that 100% of the cash the fund collects goes towards the price of manufacturing and distributing its filters for catastrophe reduction within the space.