(Jake May/MLive.com)
As hundreds of thousands of Flint, Michigan residents deal with the rising health concerns from their tainted tap water, the rest of the nation looks on with sadness and disappointment of Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder.
The situation is so dire that $80 million in new federal funding will be available to Michigan next week to help the state improve its water infrastructure. Snyder is at the heart of an environmental scandal that happens to be in a city of mostly poor and Black residents. In an effort to ease the troubles of residents, celebs and non-celebs have shown their support by donating water and money to the city of Flint.
Meek Mill
Rapper Meek Mill may be the most charitable. He donated an estimated $50,000 to the Flint Child and Family Health Development Fund AND he sent 60,000 bottles of water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. He also challenged 50 Cent to match his donation on an Instagram post:
“I got 50k to donate to waters … Let’s see if we can have @50cent match me! I’m pretty sure “flint” supported us! Serious post contact …. Roc nation will purchase for me and ship! Not even just him all entertainers! I ain’t got the [time] posting memes and shit… “Way too trill for that” @dallaslifestyle it’s my dawg hometown too! #FORMLKDAY”
Big Sean
The rapper has donated $10,000 to the relief efforts in Flint and has encouraged his fans to do the same.
“I’m raising money to support the kids of Flint Michigan. Toxic water in Flint has rendered the water undrinkable and put the entire city in a state of emergency. Flint’s children were hit the hardest and some have experienced permanent and potentially devastating health defects from lead poisoning.
We know the needs of Flint children exposed to lead, particularly those most vulnerable – children ages 0-6 – are ongoing and long-term. You can be assured that your gift will be used for critical interventions today and well into the future.
The Sean Anderson Foundation is raising funds on behalf of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint Michigan. Please give what you can, every donation counts. Thanks so much for your support.”
Diddy
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs announced that Aquahydrate, a company of which he is part owner, “will be doing a water drive and we need your help!!!!”
Chicago firefighter Eric Washington
Washington empathized with the residents and children of Flint and was eager to help the residents through the crisis, so he created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money that would buy nearly 8,000 bottles of water.
“When I first heard about it, I thought it was a minor issue, but as I started to reach out to people from Flint, then I realized how big the issue is,” Washington said. “You should never put people’s lives in jeopardy over the price of a dollar.”
He also will hold a donation drive in Chicago on January 30. As of today, Washington has raised more than $9,000, which exceeds his original goal of $2,000.
Update: As of February, Washington tells Atlanta Black Star that he has raised more that $20,000 and donated an estimated 500,000 bottles of water with the assistance of Chicago residents. Chicago’s WGN documented his voyage to Flint, where he spent time in the town to help residents over the past weekend during this awful environmental crisis.
Washington proves that there are good people in the world. Thanks to him many people are getting some relief.
