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Memphis is known for many things: St. Jude, Elvis, Beale Street, the list goes on. Somewhere in that list, access to an unlimited supply of some of the world’s cleanest, safest water will pop up. For hundreds of thousands of people who live in Memphis, it is something we are not worried about.

However, for over one billion people elsewhere in the world, finding clean drinking water is a daily worry, and often times a dangerous problem. As the threats of global poverty continue to grow, this is one of the most pressing issues facing countries and people attempting to break the cycle they are trapped in. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren’t strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses.

90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old. Most of these diseases are preventable. The UN predicts that one tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation. Lack of clean water also impedes economic progress and educational endeavors, as it is oftentimes women and children who are forced to walk miles everyday to find dirty water sources. In world conflict zones, this walk can quickly become dangerous, leaving women at risk of sexual assault and children at risk of kidnapping.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are solutions that are already working, and we want Memphians to play a small role in this during the months of February and March.
It costs $5,000 to construct a clean water well in a community in need of clean drinking water. If a mere 250 of us gave $20, we could help hundreds of people get clean water, improve their children’s education, and give them new economic opportunities.

We are firm believers in sustainability, meaning we believe projects such as these should be maintained. That’s why we partner with an organization called charity: water. Not only do 100% of the proceeds go to clean drinking water, but also the community is trained to maintain their clean water well, and aid organizations are required to check up on them from time to time to make sure they are in good condition. This means communities get to keep their clean water system for generations to come.

Cool, right? We think so. Here’s how you can help: click here to visit our charity: water fundraising page. If you want to give $5, that’s great. If you want to give $500, that’s great as well. We want to see Memphians chip in a few bucks together to help a community get something we take for granted everyday. Cheers to clean water.