Much needed water is being shipped to Flint, Michigan residents

Memphis Light Gas and Water, the city of Memphis and FedEx are sending 500 cases of water to residents of Flint, Mich. who are unable to use their city’s water supply due to lead contamination.

A press conference is being held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26, at MLGW’s Administration Building First Floor Lobby, 220 S. Main. MLGW workers will be loading a FedEx truck with cases of water at that time.

The bottled water is going to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, one of the designated collection sites for donated water.

A simple phone call to city officials spurred the support.

“When Bernal Smith of the Tri-State Defender called the city to ask if there was something we could do, this seemed like the most logical step,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. “I’m grateful to MLGW President Jerry Collins Jr. and FedEx for responding so quickly, and I hope it will encourage others to act.”

Collins added, “We are fortunate to have clean drinking water in our city, and we believe that Flint residents will be able to recover as long as cities like ours continue to help.”

FedEx is playing a key role as well. “FedEx is committed to helping the citizens of Flint, Mich. who are affected by the water crisis,” said Neil Gibson, FedEx Services vice president of corporate communications. “Working together with The Water Source and MLGW, we are mobilizing our transportation network to deliver 12,000 bottles of water to those in critical need.”

The water crisis started in April 2014 when the financially strapped city switched its source of water to the Flint River. Previously, the city bought its water from nearby Detroit. The Flint River water was so highly corrosive that it damaged the lead pipes that it flowed through.

Tri-State’s president and publisher Smith is glad that Memphis is helping the distressed community. “I would hope that if Memphis was suffering like Flint, other cities would reach out to us as well,” he said.

If others want to help in the water relief effort, go to helpforflint.com.