Of all the places to have a crisis of drinking water, a city surrounded by one-fifth of the world's fresh, surface level drinking water seems it would be last on the list. However, as national and even international media has covered, there is such a crisis in Flint. A multitude of issues converged leaving an already decimated community without safe drinking water and a health crisis particularly affecting children.
Knowing what to do, both in the short term and long term, is a difficult situation. How do you provide water to homes, schools, business, shelters? How do you plan for the health issues that develop later in life due to lead poisoning?
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, just like in the Chicago area, has a long standing presence in Flint. Much like the Catholic Charities work we know here in our city, people find a multitude of resources and assistance through the many programs and resources it offers.
However, it is now facing the additional challenges of providing these services in the midst of the water crisis. Their shelters and soup kitchens need the bottled water as much as their clients do. They are trying to meet the ever increasing needs of the community while addressing their new expenses and concerns due to the water issue. You can read more about their work on this page.
Please add the people of Flint and Catholic Charities to your prayers.
Continue learning more about how the Catholic community is responding by exploring the Faith in Flint organization sponsored by the Diocese of Lansing. There's also an article in Faith Magazine you may want to read. Ron Landfair, Coordinator of the Faith in Flint effort recently published this article in America Magazine.
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