Odenton Church Collecting Water for Embattled Flint, MI

An Odenton church is leading the effort to get clean drinking water to Flint, MI, where high levels of lead in the beleaguered city’s water system have made national headlines and possibly harmed children.

The Facebook page MD to Flint Water Drive says a team of trucks loaded with bottled water will leave Friday for Michigan.

They will also take any donated baby wipes and diapers, to be delivered to Well of Hope, a non-profit organization located in Flint.

Ron Lee, one of the organizers, told the Capital-Gazette that the Kingdom Celebration Center in Odenton has already collected enough items to fill two 26-foot trucks.

Residents can help load the trucks on Thursday.

The water crisis in Flint gained a new national spotlight after President Obama declared a federal emergency in the city. Troubles began when the city switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River in 2014 in an effort to save money.

A study released in September 2015 showed that the number of children in Flint with above-average levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled since the city began getting its water from the Flint River. The exposure to high levels of lead may cause irreversible brain damage in children.

Water Collection Points where donations will be accepted:

* Kingdom Celebration Ctr., 1350 Blair Dr., Suite H, Odenton

* Tint Busters, 7949 Central Ave., Capital Heights

* Fitness4Less
15201 Marlboro Pike, Upper Marlboro
6824 Laurel Bowie Rd., Bowie
9195 Central Ave., Capitol Heights
8821 Woodyard Rd., Clinton

* Crossroads Child Development Center, 819 W Central Ave, Davidsonville

Monetary donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/MDtoFlint-MI where all donations will go toward this effort.