Drink Water for Life

Drink Water for Life is just an idea that we want to share with individuals and groups  raising funds for community water and sanitation projects.  It is not an organization -- there are already more than enough great organizations doing this work.  We urge you not to create any more organizations.  Instead, simply use natural communities -- churches, schools, service clubs, youth groups -- to raise funds for the extraordinary work that is being done by organizations devoted to bring clean water and sanitation to the world. 

We are a small team of volunteers in Oregon and elsewhere who pass this idea  and our passion for providing clean water and sanitation to the poor onto others.

The Drink Water for Life idea originated as a Lenten observance of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Salem Oregon, which is committed to serving the poorest of the poor by funding community water and sanitation projects.

The Language of God from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

The idea first became reality in Spring 2006 when many members of First Congregational covenanted to "Drink Water for Life" during the 40 days of Lent.  That first Drink Water for Life campaign raised $ 3500, in a congregation of roughly 300 active members.  The money was sent to Global Ministries, the UCC and Disciples of Christ global mission organization, which forwarded it to Church World Service, which was developing wells in several areas of Kenya.

The 2007 campaign at First Congregational raised roughly the same amount, which was sent to Global Ministries to fund a water distribution system in the small mountain community of Irayol, Honduras. 

The 2008 campaign raised $ 4300.  Those funds, together with the funds raised in 2009 and contributions of Faith UCC and All Peoples UCC, supported clean water projects of our  Haitian partner, the Peasant Movement of Papay.  For a brief explanation of our decision to fund projects in Haiti, click   Why We Chose Haiti !

A dozen other UCC churches and churches from other denominations in Oregon and Washington have created their own Drink Water for Life campaigns during the past three years. Another church in Indiana, Faith United Church of Christ, used the idea for the first time in 2009.  Schools and universities in Oregon are developing their own Drink Water for Life campaigns.

Drink Water for Life has attracted some local and national publicity.  That's great, but only because it spreads the idea.   Remember it's just an idea.  Claim it as your own.  Fund a well or two, capture a spring, build a small reservoir.  And do your best to pass the idea and your passion along.