Submitted by Desiree Hensley
UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (May 23, 2023) – Irwin’s Chapel United Methodist Church raised more than $58,000 during its Walk 4 Water Union County fundraiser on May 21.
All funds raised will go toward the drilling of safe water boreholes for four villages in Uganda. Two additional villages will be identified and assigned to receive boreholes in the coming days.
Walk 4 Water Union County’s fundraising goal was $45,000, but the Union County community showed up in a big way and went above and beyond to raise enough to fund the drilling and installation of six wells.
These wells are drilled, installed and maintained by Water 4 Kids International, a division of Hope 4 Kids International, a non-profit working to provide clean water to children and families who are suffering through extreme poverty and disease. Each well has the potential to impact thousands of villagers.
“Union County residents of all ages and backgrounds came together to celebrate the blessed life we have here and to help spread the blessings to others suffering from extreme poverty and lack of access to clean, safe water in Uganda,” said Desiree Hensley, Walk 4 Water Union County chair.
“It was wonderful to see Union County High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Color Guard lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Cub Scouts Pack 401 lead our walk. We all are already looking forward to next year’s event.”
More than 100 walked one mile around Wilson Park and Union County High School, symbolizing the distance Ugandan women and children travel to retrieve water, largely from unprotected sources including open ponds, livestock water points and polluted ditches.
In total, roughly 200 members of the greater Union County community attended the event and enjoyed great food and desserts from Kazoku Hibachi Express, Lobster Dogs Food Trucks of Tennessee, Sticks and Scoops and Cub Scouts Pack 401.
Hensley added, “We are incredibly grateful to the 23 local companies and five community churches that participated; the UCHS Navy Junior ROTC, Cub Scouts Pack and Boy Scouts Troops 401, the bluegrass
and worship bands, line and hula dancers—everyone who came out to support and make this event a major success!”
For more information about the Water 4 Kids International program, or to donate to Walk 4 Water Union County, visit 4ki.org/w4wunioncounty.
About Hope 4 Kids International
Hope 4 Kids International is a Christian, non-profit organization, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Leading teams on exciting, life-changing short-term missions to projects around the world, Hope 4 Kids International is committed to serving impoverished children who are hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Teams bring relief to poverty-stricken villages by providing clean water, building medical and dental clinics, and establishing emergency medical funds.
Our strategies are designed to help villagers become self-sufficient through lifesaving programs. We carry the message of God’s love and hope through these impactful outreaches.