The deadly floods that swept through eastern Kentucky last month left many without access to water. LifeStraw stepped up to deliver aid and now wants your support to help out.
July’s extreme rainfall caused widespread destruction in Kentucky, killing 37 people. As residents struggle to cope and rebuild, they face a new problem: lack of access to clean water.
Flooding destroyed much of the region’s water delivery infrastructure, the Washington Post reported, leaving many families without access to shelter, food, electricity, or potable water.
Now, water purifier company LifeStraw wants your help in aiding Kentuckians in need.
LifeStraw has already shipped more than 3,700 individual, household, and high-volume purifiers to the region, according to a press release. But organizers want to do more.
The company has partnered with the USDA and grassroots efforts to ship more filters. “Help us reach more families!” LifeStraw said in a press release.
LifeStraw’s $20,000 Goal
LifeStraw has started a GoFundMe campaign through its nonprofit, the LifeStraw Safe Water Fund.
As of Thursday, the Safe Water Fund for Kentucky — a subsidiary of the broader-reaching fund — had raised nearly $8,000 from 113 donations. But LifeStraw wants to reach a goal of $20,000 because many more people still need clean water.
The flooding and continued rains knocked out homes, roads, essential power lines, and water utilities in five counties. Many communities remain desperate, using springs, swimming pools, and flood water for their water needs, LifeStraw said.
In the worst-hit areas, flooding completely washed away water lines. It could be months or longer before workers can replace them, and some towns don’t even know how they’ll pay for repairs.
In August, LifeStraw sent several people to eastern Kentucky to distribute the filters and support relief efforts. That included the company’s CEO, Alison Hill.
“It was an emotional reminder that responding to emergencies and showing up when communities are struggling for access to safe drinking water is core to the LifeStraw team,” Hill said.
“It’s more than just donating and sending products. It is about working side by side with the community to show up for families, asking what they need, listening to what is critical to them and doing what we can to make it happen.”
Call for Supplies
In addition to money for filters, LifeStraw has called on businesses to donate needed supplies.
The items Kentucky residents most need include tents, solar lighting, and coolers, as most households have lost power and refrigeration. Other needed supplies include kids’ shoes, sleeping bags, camp stoves, underwear, female hygiene products, diapers, and baby formula.
Businesses interested in donating supplies to flood victims can contact LifeStraw’s Social Impact Manager, Tara MacDowell, at tlm@lifestraw.com.
Individuals interested in donating can contribute to the Safe Water Fund for Kentucky. LifeStraw added that 100% of the money the fund collects goes toward the cost of manufacturing and distributing its filters for disaster relief in the area.
