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A Christmas Gift You Can Drink Too...

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

 

I'll never forget the day I left home. My 44 pounds of personal possessions were neatly crammed into one small suitcase. I stood by the car and hugged my family.  They would not accompany me on the 4 hour journey to the airport in another city. My heart was heavy with sadness at leaving my family.  I was also worried because my brother lay in bed...quite sick with Typhoid Fever, a disease that had ravaged his body with fever for a couple of weeks.

Drinking WaterTyphoid Fever is a water borne disease.  It is almost unknown in the United States where we take clean drinking water for granted.  But in many countries around the world...your next sip may contain an unwelcome parasite which if untreated could kill you! 

Having personally seen the devastating effects of Typhoid Fever, I truly appreciate the importance of clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

This past summer, Rocky Turner (wife of Jeff Turner) visited an orphanage in Kenya for several weeks.  Many of us followed her visit through posts on her website even donated money for underwear...remember that? 

Now Rocky & Julie are partnering with A Childs' Right Charity to raise money for Clean Drinking Water Purification Systems for the Girls at the Saint Monica's orphanage and 9 other sites across Kenya! They are planning to visit the orphange later next year.

Here's the deal.  They need to raise $30,000 for 10 Water Purification Systems. Clean Water is Not Cheap...Neither is the Gift of Life.  They will be partnering with a charitable organization which has successfully completed these types of projects in Asia.

Rocky and Julie are asking for 100 Individuals to Raise $100 which will help them accomplish a Third of their goal.  This is a great way to Give a Gift that Keeps on Giving. As we head towards the final stretch this year, you might consider helping out with this worthwhile Drinking Project.  I promise there will be no hangover. :) 

Here's information from Rocky's blog about how to participate:

1. Who do we write the check out to? The check should be written directly to A Child's Right. In the memo of the check needs to have MFFO Kenya Project. That will guarantee our project be credited the amount.

2. How do I know this is not a scam? This is a legitimate question these days. A Child's Right is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation (tax ID# 56-2600599). You can locate them on the IRS, GuideStar.org, and GoodSearch. Julie and I will be accompanying A Child's Right to Kenya next year. We will be helping them with the installation itself and meeting all the children that receive your donations.

3. Who do we send the checks to? You can send them directly to Mothers Fighting For Others. Here is the address.

Mothers Fighting For Others INC
Clean Water Project
27943 Seco Canyon RD # 533
Santa Clarita CA 91350

Typhoid Fever can also be passed through a lack of proper sanitation.  It is a disease associated with human thirst. I'm thankful that my brother was successfully treated and recovered without complications.  But wouldn't it be better if access to clean water prevented children from being exposed to the disease in the first place? If this resonates with you this Christmas, please consider supporting Rocky & Julie with this project.  Your gifts are tax deductible to boot!

Photo courtesy of greefus groinks photostream on flickr.com

Comments(18)

Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Hi LOla, Thanks for bringing this back to our attention. I read about this a couple of weeks ago and had forgotten about it. I know I'm not a "mutha" but should be able to help. Thanks. There are so many thing we take for granted in this country. I fear we are goin't to have a lot of splainin' to do to the Big Guy.
Dec 05, 2007 09:38 AM
Racquel Turner
Mothers Fighting For Others - Santa Clarita, CA
What can I say? Thank you doesn't seem to be enough! I am so grateful to you. Maybe if I'm lucky, I will get to meet you one day!
Dec 05, 2007 09:41 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
Rocky, the honor would be mine.  I truly appreciate what you are doing and the love you have for others...particularly the children of Africa.
Dec 05, 2007 09:57 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
Hey Bryant, Muthas and Fathas are all Welcome to Participate in this one! :)  Thanks for stopping by.  I just returned from reading your very interesting and humorous blog post about loose flys...Ahem...a different type of sanitation issue there...
Dec 05, 2007 09:59 AM
Loretta Buckner
Real World Properties, Inc.| Your Real Estate Consultant for Life - Palm Harbor, FL
Your GREEN Real Estate Consultant For Life!
You're from Nigeria?!  How cool is that!  I have some friends in DC who do work for Charitable Charities--I'm going to pass this along to them to see if they can give it some extra exposure...
Dec 05, 2007 11:20 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I'm on it, Lola. This is such a worthwhile project. We so take water, clean water, for granted, adn so many throughout the world cannot.

Jeff

Dec 05, 2007 02:16 PM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team
Lola:  How is it that a post about an argument between adults can draw over 200 comments...but a post about providing clean water to dying children gets 6? That is a Math equation beyond my comprehension. I'm going to get to know Rocky...she seems like an amazing woman! GBY!
Dec 06, 2007 02:34 PM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life
Great job pointing this out and I'm going to try to drive more traffic to this point.  Thanks Lola!
Dec 07, 2007 05:27 AM
Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX
Thanks to Elizabeth for pointing this post out. I'm with Jason, I'm going to put this link on my website and outside blogs! Thank you Lola, Rocky and Julie!
Dec 07, 2007 05:42 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
A Heartfelt Thank You to Bryant, Jeff, Jason, Elizabeth, Loretta & Linda....Thanks for stopping by to read this & for doing what you can.  :)  In the Spirit of Giving and Christmas, Bless You!
Dec 07, 2007 06:58 AM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

Jason and Linda:  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING!!! GBY !!!!

Lola:  THANKS for making the need known! GBY!

Dec 07, 2007 08:06 AM
Paul Slaybaugh
Homesmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate
I am so glad that Elizabeth pointed out this worthwhile piece in her comment on my monstrosity of a post.  Human nature is a funny thing.  I feel as if I should apologize that an important post like this had to get lost in the shadow of bickering Realtors.  Perhaps you should just change the title to "Active Rain Members That I Dislike."  You would get 5000 clicks in an hour.  You are to be commended for you efforts towards this noble cause.  Well done, Lola.
Dec 07, 2007 01:44 PM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA
Lola - Bless you for sharing this. So many are in need. Even a little bit can make a big difference.
Dec 09, 2007 03:35 AM
Racquel Turner
Mothers Fighting For Others - Santa Clarita, CA

Hey Lola,

Just wanted to let you know, our new site is up. MothersFightingForOthers.com 

If any of your links to us are directed to the old blog, they will see the "We've Moved" post. Thanks again for all your support!

Dec 10, 2007 09:53 AM
Racquel Turner
Mothers Fighting For Others - Santa Clarita, CA
Because of your post, I just received a $1000 check for the Water Project. You know how much I love you right now! THANK YOU LOLA!!!
Dec 17, 2007 07:00 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Andrew, Thank You! :)

Rocky...Wow, this comment made my Day today! :)  I'm so thankful that something like this can make such a difference.  I just posted a contribution today.  Continued Blessings to you in this endeavor...

Dec 17, 2007 12:54 PM
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Lola,  Amazing how much we take for granted.  Clean water.  So simple and yet so precious in many places.  Thanks for caring.

Nov 05, 2009 07:31 AM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Bonita Springs, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Lola ~ I first must state that you resemble Michelle O'Bama. Second, you are amazing an that you for such a profound post. God Bless!

Dec 10, 2009 02:01 PM