Local Charity Hosts Benefit for 700 Children in Uganda

When Erin Huber, visited Africa over a year ago, the sight of over 700 children (many orphaned) without access to clean water was more than she could take.

Since then, she established the non-profit Drink Local. Drink Tap., an organization that educates our community about our own water resources, while raising money to fund a safe water resource for children in Uganda. This summer, Drink Local. Drink Tap. is headed back to Africa to begin the physical drilling process for clean water.

As a result, the organization is hosting a benefit this month to raise money for the cause.

“This benefit means so much to so many people,” said Huber. "In Uganda most members of this small rural village have never flushed a toilet, seen a tap, or even a lake. Children have to walk a minimum of 2.5 miles in the “non-dry” season and 4.5 miles during the dry season for water."

“This happens daily before school starts at 6:00am and in the evenings at 6:00pm, ten months out of the year," she added. "Our goal is to stop this from happening and create a water source in the village, which will help the community and keep these children safe. Proceeds from this benefit will help make that happen.”

Also behind the project, rower Beth O’Kain a Lakewood resident, will attempt to set a historical record by rowing across Lake Erie from Cleveland to Canada this summer to raise awareness about the cause. O’Kain rowed 2,600 miles across the Atlantic ocean, over 43 days, with a crew in 2011. She was the 33^rd American to attempt to row an ocean. The Lake Erie row will also help raise awareness and funds for the drilling in Uganda.

“Making water using a watermaker on our 43-day row across the Atlantic was a challenge. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to not have access to clean water on a daily basis,” said O’Kain. “The Uganda Project was something I really wanted to get behind and I’m happy to be a part of the benefit and movement.”

The Uganda and Great Lakes Row Benefit will take place on Sunday, May 20 from 4 to 8 pm at Brother’s Lounge in Lakewood. The event will feature an afternoon full of music by artists and local bands: Jonathan Boyer, Booby Trap and Backroom Disaster. In addition, there will be several raffles throughout the evening. Admission is $10 and nearly 100% of the proceeds will go towards the Uganda project.

For more information or to arrange interviews with Erin Huber or Beth O’Kain contact Becki Cooper at 440-227-8794 or via email at info@rebeccaadeleevents.com.

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Drink Local. Drink Tap. is a non-profit organization that focuses on reconnecting people with local water in tangible activities. These activities include educational events, beach cleanups, World Water Day celebrations, public speaking, art and filmmaking. For more information of the organization visit www.drinklocaldrinktap.org.