Page 19 - September 2019

that the rest of the villagers followed suit. promptly volunteered. Jim recounts his be a part of Beaufort’s inaugural Walk for
The situation in Honduras was just a small experience, “I was amazed at all of the Water. “The Walk for Water had already
example of a much larger, global water work the volunteers were doing and I knew been going on in Charleston as the Water
crisis. that is where I wanted to be...hands on, Mission’s biggest fundraiser”. The more he
Millions of people in developing assembling, so I started by putting together began to learn about where his money was
countries across the globe are forced filters for the purifying systems.” In the going, the more he felt compelled to be a
to drink water that isn’t safe for human beginning, Jim would make the 150-mile part of the hands and feet of the mission. He
consumption. In 2001, the Greenes founded round-trip drive every week to volunteer began working on the fundraising team and
the Christian engineering nonprofit, “Water at the North Charleston facility, “All of the donor team concurrently, while still living in
Mission International,” in an effort to aid in systems are assembled by volunteers, so, Charleston. Robert remembers he and his
this devastating crisis. Water Mission’s goal on Thursdays, I would work and then attend family were attending Seacoast Church in
was to, “implement safe water, sanitation, a Mission lunch, they would feed us lunch Charleston. “The Greene’s were speaking
and hygiene solutions for people in every week.” It was during these lunches and had set up a purification system in the
developing countries and disaster areas.” that Jim began to learn more about the main lobby. Molly and George spoke about
Their solar powered, water purification fundraising event, which is the Charleston the infant mortality rate due to waterborne
systems were set to change the course of Walk for Water. In 2016, Jim would join a illnesses, and of the millions of people who
the water crisis. Water Missions developed group from his church, along with 4,000 don’t have clean drinking water.” Before
the system, mapped out how to install them other participants, for the Charleston Walk. that, Bob said, “Thinking about someone
in different geographic locations, arranged “I thought, you know, we should have a not being able to have clean water to drink
delivery, and created an infrastructure of walk in Beaufort…” wasn’t even on my radar. So many young
maintenance and education so that once According to their website, the Water children are dying of waterborne illnesses,
installed villages could be self-sustained. The Mission estimates that with their system and we have the answer, we know how to
only obstacle left was the funding required in place, it only costs $25 to provide fix it, and we know how to deliver it to them,
to make all of this happen. someone with safe water for life. In addition it’s just that we need to keep raising the funds
A large part of the success of Water to providing life-saving water, “The and awareness.” Finally aware of what was
Missions is due to the many volunteers Mission also aids in building latrines to happening, “I couldn’t turn my back and
and donors that are led to serve the global promote proper sanitation in villages and keep going on with my regular life. I would
community. In 2015, a gentleman by the communities.” Since its inception in 2001, it think about all of those women and children
name of Kevin Herr, the Director of Church has provided access to safe drinking water who have to go through so much, only to
partnerships at Water Mission, came to to over 4 million people in 55 countries. get dirty water that is unsafe for them. Here
the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort “Many of the world’s deadliest diseases I am, sometimes not wanting to walk the
and spoke to the congregation about the are transmitted through water. Cholera, few steps across the kitchen to pour a glass
nonprofit. Jim Pickard just so happened to typhoid, diarrhea…for children under the of clean, purified water for myself. It really
be attending that service and was inspired age of five, dirty water is a leading cause of changes your perspective.” He remembers
by what Kevin had to say. Until this point, death. Half of the hospital beds in the world George Greene saying, “The size of the
Jim had little information about the water are filled with people with water related problem is just unbelievable and the need to
crisis and could not deny that after hearing illnesses.” solve the problem is of utmost urgency,” and
Kevin speak, was moved to do something Robert Lasher began his journey with this simple statement sparked something in
about it, “I knew I needed to help in Water Mission as a donor. Today, he has Robert. He knew he wanted to be a part of
some way.” The church arranged for a been working with the nonprofit for almost this solution.
team to go and tour the Water Mission’s 8 years in total. “Bob” and his wife moved After he moved to Beaufort, Bob would
North Charleston facility, and Jim Pickard to Beaufort in 2017. He moved just in time to connect with Jim through their shared