Responding to crisis in West Virginia, organizing relief effort
From 2000 Switzer Fellow Jen Osha, who is coordinating an effort to bring bottled water to West Virginia residents whose water supply was contaminated by the chemical leak at Freedom Industries last week:
Thanks to the generosity of many people, on Sunday we were able to fill a 20 foot trailer, an SUV, a truck bed, and a smaller trailer with water to help the folks in the southern part of our state who are affected by the coal chemical spill. After only 12 hours of fundraising, Aurora Lights was able to deliver over 1,000 gallons water and supplies to to Appalachian families suffering under the strains of living without an invaluable necessity, water. Thanks to an incredible overflow of community support, and lots of hard work from our members, Aurora Lights was able to bring what Boone County resident and icon, Maria Guneo called a "miracle".
On Tuesday we coordinated a delivery of water to go to Cabin Creek. The fire station called us this evening to thank us for the delivery. It is the first time they have received a direct shipment of water since this all happened. Communities continue to contact us asking if we could coordinate drop offs in their towns because they haven't received shipments or what they have received is gone. I am very impressed with the team of administrators that has come together for the West Virginia Clean Water Hub Facebook page, where we connect folks up who have water and need water.
A story that sticks in my mind: A mother of two small children called us and said the communities are in desperate need of diaper rash cream and wipes because they can't properly bathe their children and the wipes have all but disappeared, their children are getting diaper rash. Another story was of a family with a child on a feeding tube, and they called and politely asked if they could have some extra water so they could clean the tube.
We have another large load of water going down tomorrow. We are also focusing on supporting families with young children by focusing on baby formula, wipes, etc.
Let's work together to make sure that we never let this happen again. More information is available on Aurora Lights' Facebook page. If you live near the affected area and have a spring, well or other clean water source that people can draw from, the West Virginia Clean Water Hub has been set up to coordinate such drinking water mutual aid.
In the midst of so much suffering, I have been blessed to see many faces of compassion and kindness. I am inspired by the solidarity of people working together from all parts of our region no matter what their job or point of view on issues that usually tear us apart. Please support us through this immediate crisis, and continue to stay engaged after the crisis as we keep up the heat and make the much needed regulatory changes to support a healthy Appalachia.
