Editor’s Note: Thanks to our supplier, Coca-Cola, for sharing this story that originally appeared this week on Coca-Cola Journey.
Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo will collectively donate water to meet the daily needs of more than 10,000 school children in Flint, Mich. for the remainder of 2016, the companies announced today. That translates to 176 truckloads, or up to 6.5 million bottles of water, to help with relief efforts for those affected by the Flint water crisis.
Walmart, Coca-Cola,
Nestlé and PepsiCo will collectively donate water to meet the daily needs of
more than 10,000 school children in Flint, Mich. for the remainder of 2016, the
companies announced today. That translates to 176 truckloads, or up to 6.5
million bottles of water, to help with relief efforts for those affected by the
Flint water crisis.
Flint has been dealing with
a water crisis for the last 19 months. In 2014, Flint left the Detroit water
system to save money and began pumping water from the Flint River to residents
for drinking, cooking and bathing. After the switch, Flint residents and
independent researchers indicated increasing levels of lead in the water, which
made it unusable and undrinkable. The city recently returned to the City of
Detroit water system for its water supply, but because of aging pipes lead is
still detected and the water is still unusable.
“The water crisis is
personal to us here in Flint. Those affected include our own associates,
customers and their families,” said Beth Harris, Walmart store manager in
Flint. “Our associates are proud to be a part of the effort to help our friends
and neighbors.”
Walmart has already donated
14 trucks of water, or 504,000 bottles, and 1,792 water filters to the Flint
community since July 2015.
“We are committed to
supporting Walmart and other groups in water relief efforts for the Flint
community,” said Lori George Billingsley, vice president of Community Relations, Coca-Cola North
America. “This critical initiative to provide bottled water to the two Flint
school districts builds on our heritage of supporting disaster relief work
around the world. Since 2014, we have donated bottled water, volunteer hours
and supported our employees in the affected area and will continue to look for
ways to help meet the community’s needs.”
“Rooted in our 129 year
history is a deep commitment to supporting our local community,” said Matt
Barribeau, Michigan Market Unit General Manager,Coca-Cola Refreshments.
“I’m proud of the work we have been doing in Flint since 2014 – from donating
78,720 bottles of water to coordinating with local community groups on
logistics and transportation. On Feb. 3, we will host a Coca-Cola Day
of Service with our community partners Food Bank of East Michigan and Mission of Hope
Ministries. We will welcome our Coca-Cola associates from
neighboring states to join the Food Bank of East Michigan to assist Flint
residents.”
In addition to the water
donation, the companies are encouraging others to support the Flint community
by working with Good360, where nonprofits operating in Flint are listing their
needs online. Walmart and its suppliers will continue to work closely in the
Flint community and are encouraging the public to get involved by visiting www.good360.org/flint to make donations
that will go directly to local nonprofits serving the community.
“We are grateful for
Walmart and their suppliers' support during this crisis,” said Bilal Tawwab,
Flint Community Schools Superintendent. “With their generous support, District
students will have access to clean drinking water, and more importantly, the
ability to focus on their education.”