Walking for Water

Walk for Water, Charleston, S.C. 2012

I am a strong supporter of Water Missions International. I love their very practical water purification system that can turn muddy, contaminated water into pure drinking water. Love it. A few years ago the health system I work for sponsored the shipment and installation of one of the units for a small hospital in Eldoret, Kenya and I got to go to document it.

Today was the annual fundraising Walk for Water in Charleston. The skies were cloudy but we were spared the rain and a cheerful crowd started in Canon Park carrying empty buckets and filled them up with murky water at White Point Gardens to carry back and get some idea of what most of the world has to do on a daily basis. It's a great cause and I am so proud that it is based right here in Charleston. They welcome you to come and see the units being made if you are interested. The enthusiasm is contagious!

Find your photos at this link: Walk for Water 2012

 

Walk for Water 2011

Charleston, S.C.

It was so cool to see a real Maasai tribesman at the Water Missions International Walk for Water this morning. Everyone had to have their picture taken with him and he joined the festivities leading the walk through downtown Charleston with George and Molly Green.

The goal of the walk is to raise funds and awareness of the water purification systems made by Water Missions International and shipped overseas. We are extraordinarily proud that this international company that saves so many lives is based right here in Charleston.

We had the most glorious day for the walk which started at Cannon Park and ended up at the Battery where people could fill a bucket with water to carry back. Cute kids, dogs, girl scouts, the Mayor, the Piggly Wiggly Pig, a Maasai tribesman and a successful fund raising event - what more could you ask for? Many thanks to David Dixon and Amanda Doosshe for leading our team and to my blog friend contributors!

More photos here.

I did get to meet other photographers who were helping out at the event and caught Alyona with walkers who were hamming it up for her photo op below!

WMI Walk for Water

Eldoret, Kenya

Water Missions International will hold their third Walk for Water on March 19th at Cannon Park in downtown Charleston. Three years ago my hospital raised the money to install one of their water purification systems for the Plateau Mission Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya and I was fortunate to go to document the commissioning ceremony.

We've kept in touch with the hospital - raised money to renovate their maternity ward, sent books to the local school and received letters from the doctor letting us know what a difference clean pure water has made to the hospital admissions. It was one of the coolest things I have ever been part of.

You can be part of it too! Think about joining the Walk for Water in some way. Register to participate, raise some funds or sponsor a walker. What makes more sense than clean water?

Water Missions International is based right here in Charleston on Savannah Highway and welcomes visitors to tour their warehouse where volunteers are busy putting together the purification systems. Consider yourself invited!

The gift for the folks who have everything...

Water Missions International, Charleston, S.C.

Yes! Buy them an outhouse! I's quirky, original, practical and fun. For a $100 donation to Water Missions International you can have a Sanitary Pit Latrine installed in a country where it is desperately needed.

Sanitary Pit Latrine: The Healthy Latrine is a low-cost yet sturdy, robust, aesthetic and durable type of construction developed by WMI as part of a state wide pilot Project in the Department of Colon, Honduras and used around developing countries to provide access to adequate sanitation facilities to needy families and households in rural and sub-urban settlements lacking any other type of sewage facilities.

This Latrine was developed to improve health and living conditions on children and adults because it is a well-known fact that about three quarters of poor families in developing countries lack these types of facilities. Lack of proper sanitation represents more than half the sources of gastrointestinal diseases caused by waterborne bacteria, viruses and worms.

Water Mission Internationl's primary project is building water purification systems. That is how I met them and got involved, eventually traveling to Kenya to document the installation of a system for a little hospital in Eldoret. When I was touring their facility on Savannah Highway I spotted this outhouse made out of poured concrete in the corner and was enchanted.

I grew up using outhouses and love this solution since it uses a gallon of back flush water from the purification system. Neato!

Seriously. I bought one last year for Christmas and intend to do it again this year. It would be the perfect fun/serious gift to give in people's names. I tried to talk WMI into personalizing them but they still suspect I am nuts. Wouldn't it be great to have a picture of your outhouse with your name on it? I can see a line of Joany Pony Potties. I'd probably go visit them.

Here is the donation link or just give them a call. The latrine is listed in their holiday catalog.

Pony up for a holiday potty!

Home again, home again....

Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

Safely home from St. Louis. Uploading hundreds of pictures, catching up on emails and watching trash day time tv. Charleston has cooled down and is bright and sunny to welcome me home. I've got my sheets in the wash and the windows open.

I walked this morning and was pleased to see all the construction action going on at one of my favorite houses on Warren St.

Thank you all for clicking to vote at the AHA Moment site. It's a weird thing to ask people to do but Water Missions is such a great cause!

Time to do some blog hopping to see what y'all have been up to while I've been away.

Vote for AHA moment

AHA Airstream, Charleston, S.C.

Last June I was contacted by the Mutual of Omaha "AHA moment" folks and invited to come to Marion Square to record an "AHA Moment". This photo is from that day.

They went all over the country and apparently are now showcasing some of their favorites and asking people to vote for ones that will be featured on tv. I am terrible in front of a camera, get nervous and talk too fast BUT the cause was Water Mission's International water purification systems. So, if you are inclined, I would appreciate your vote. It might bring attention to this great charity.

It is simple click to vote one time: Click here to vote.

Walk for Water - Charleston, 2010

Walk for Water - 2010, Charleston, S.C.

If you've dropped by here more than a few times you know that I am a strong supporter of Water Missions International. I love, love, love the practical solution they came up with to purify water. Last year the health system I work for raised funds to build a water purification system for a little hospital in Kenya and I was lucky enough to go to document the trip.

Production at the WMI warehouse kicked into high gear after the earthquake in Haiti. We raised funds and sent over lunch for the hands-on volunteers. Today was their annual fund raising walk and I went by to show my support.

The Rehab Dept. at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital rallied almost all of their department for the cause and called their team the "St. Francis River Rats". I was tickled that we were invited to carry the flag for Kenya because of our continuing involvement there.

The three mile walk was led by founders Molly and George Greene (our heroes wearing blue above) and their family, started at Canon Park, marched down to the Battery, circled White Point Gardens and back. Along the way walkers were encouraged to fill their bucket with water to get an idea of how most of the world gets their water.

Thanks to Caroline Nuttall from Charlie and Micky Bakst from Charleston Grill (bottom photo, left) who coordinated a large team of supporters and fundraisers. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful thing to be part of. More photos here.

Calling all cooks, chefs and restaurants!

Water Missions International, Charleston, S.C.

I tend to snoop around and when I was last at the Water Missions International office on Savannah Highway watching them put together the purification systems for Haiti, I saw donuts being delivered for the volunteers. They are trying to produce five water treatment systems a day during this crisis - that takes some work.

I wondered who fed the volunteers and emailed out of curiosity to see if lunches were donated and for how many people. They wrote back and said, "Yes! Please, we need lunch for thirty five, can you bring it on Thursday?!"

I did a little sweet talking and the next thing you know Dan Curry in the hospital cafeteria had boxes full of wraps, giant cookies and fruit. My volunteer Tom Gardner loaded up his truck and we delivered lunch for thirty five today. Coolness!

This is going to go on for a while. If you like to cook, know folks in restaurants or cafeterias think of helping out. Call them up at (843)769-7395 and offer to bring lunch for the miracle workers.

Science fair project gone wild

WMI, Savannah Hwy, Charleston, S.C.

Any idea what it is?

Every time I see Water Missions International featured on the national news as one of the leading providers of water purification systems to the Haiti earthquake disaster I am proud as punch that the headquarters is based right here in Charleston. The warehouse is on Savannah Highway right past Hwy 526. They are using the space behind Seacoast Church to build their mud to water magic machines.

Molly and George Greene (our heroes pictured below) owned General Engineering, an engineering company with over 400 employees. Years ago, after a serious hurricane hit Honduras they asked what they could do to help and Mr. Greene drew up a model for a water purification system on a paper napkin. They made a couple, personally delivered them and watched as filthy water was turned into pure clear drinking water. When they came back, they sold their business and have been making the units ever since.

I went to the warehouse on Monday morning to take a picture of the Roper Hospital volunteers donating a check to Water Missions for $2,500 and I stuck around to watch their faces as they listened to the tour. It is such a simple, practical solution to a problem that it is almost impossible not to want to support it. One of my volunteer gentleman came to me saying that he was in a position to make a donation and knowing of my involvement let me put him in touch with Water Missions. I was dancing around my office when I learned he gave them $10,000.

The place is hopping during this crisis. Volunteers are putting together five units a day. If you are looking for a place to donate funds they are definitely worth considering and if you live locally think about stopping by. The clean water cause is infectious.

The answer to the picture is - garnet chips. That is what is used as filtration material.

Clean Water for Haiti

Water Missions International, Charleston, S.C.

This is the warehouse on Savannah Highway where volunteers put together the units being shipped to Haiti for water purification. Water Missions International is being featured regularly on CNN and I am proud to say is based here in Charleston.

Link for Online Donations

The hospital I work for, Roper St. Francis Healthcare called WMI yesterday offering a corporate donation of $15,000. People kept bringing me checks and handing me dollar bills yesterday so I have extra to add. We are familiar with this organization because we funded a water purification system for a little hospital in Kenya last year and feel they are a good and honorable group. It's such a sensible solution to me - the units can turn mud into pure clean water.

Thanks to Waldo, The Cotton Boll Conspiracy, Kittens on the Keyboard and Beach Bum for spreading the word. (Picture me blowing kisses!)

Not everyone can make a donation these days, but if you live locally I suspect they could use extra volunteer hands as they deal with this disaster.

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston

Society St., Charleston, S.C.

This is another one of my favorite teeny, tiny little houses in Charleston. This one probably isn't as small as it looks since it has an extra wing added on the back.

Isn't this Haiti business a sad mess? I donated a bit to Water Missions International in their name. At least I know and trust the organization and they have water purification systems made and ready to be shipped. They shipped two systems to Haiti Wednesday. Ten more go tonight and another ten more this weekend. If you are looking for a place to donate - you can't go wrong with clean water.

Moses comes to Charleston

Charleston, S.C.

When I was in Kenya earlier this year I sat in a meeting with the physician and administrator of Plateau Mission Hospital, the little hospital we had purchased a water purification system for.

Since my background is in maternity nursing I paid special interest to that part of the hospital. I asked the nurses to show me everything and documented it with pictures. I brought home a copy of their five year plan, got out a calculator and translated the Kenya Shillings to US dollars to see what they were dealing with. It dawned on me that the funding they needed to renovate their maternity unit was $695.00

$695 to renovate a whole hospital unit. That stuck with me and I went to our Women's & Children's staff and said. "What do you think? You might be able to take care of this."

We had already sent a small box with lifesaving infant laryngoscope and suction, but this group took the project on. I spoke at the nurse's retreat and described what I'd seen. The nurses brought out their check books and held bake sales. They sweet-talked the Obstetricians and Pediatricians. They blew me away with their compassion and enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the gentleman who escorted us when we were in Kenya was due to arrive in Charleston this week. The Water Mission International headquarters is less than a mile from my hospital and they brought their international country directors in for a week long meeting. Moses was in town! It was his first trip out of Kenya and I couldn't wait to see him. He had been so kind and welcoming to us and had such an infectious joyful personality. He had been so excited to try pizza for the first time and visit a McDonalds.

Moses had been in meetings all week and yesterday was finally the day we got to welcome him to our hospital. I could hardly sit still waiting. I watched him as he walked up the hospital door by himself. I couldn't remember if we hugged in Kenya but we did this time! He was swarmed with chattering nurses and staff all eager to meet him. He coolly handled a press conference with Channel 4 and was interviewed by "West Of" newspaper with complete confidence.

The Women's & Children's staff presented him with a check for $3,200 to take back to help renovate the hospital. Watching his impressions as he toured our modern facility was humbling and delightful. I work with some incredible people who saw a need and chose to make a difference. It was one of the best days of my life.