Flint Rising: Ongoing Community Canvass Efforts

Friends,

Last weekend, volunteers knocked nearly 3,000 doors!

Flint Rising will be back at it this coming weekend, Saturday Feb. 20th and Sunday, Feb 21st.!

For those who would like to join us at St. Michael’s Church in Flint. We will send bilingual canvassers to Flint’s east side and others to public housing and Flint’s north end.

Saturday & Sunday Canvass at 2pm at St. Michael’s Church, (609 E 5th Ave, Flint, MI 48503)

If you would like to help with data entry, we will be entering data beginning around 5:00 pm each evening. Please bring a laptop!

If you can volunteer on ongoing basis, please sign up here, so we can keep you plugged in with information: VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

Much love and solidarity,

– Flint Rising

Genessee County United Way:

Michigan’s working men and women have stepped up in a variety of ways to help the people of Flint – and there’s still more we can do to help people who have been hurt by the Flint Water Crisis. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can do:

Volunteer

If you are in the area and wish to volunteer, the United Way of Genesee County, the Michigan Community Service Commission and the American Red Cross of East Central Bay-Michigan have come together to operate the volunteer center.

They need volunteers to do data entry (inside work), as well as going out into the community (must be at least 18 years of age) to distribute water, filters, etc.

Volunteer Center

For now it’s safe to tell people the Volunteer Center will be open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

American Red Cross
1401 S. Grand Traverse St
Flint, MI 48503

Please note: Large groups wishing to volunteer should visit www.flintvolunteer.com . This site was set-up by the Red Cross and provides all the information someone may ever need. The needs for volunteers is ever changing, so ALL groups please go to this site and someone from the Red Cross will contact you. Individuals can also visit this site to learn more and to fill-out a registration form, however individuals are still welcome to just show up at the Red Cross.

Donating Water

In regards to dropping off donated water, donations can be delivered at the following locations:

WEEKDAYS – 8:00AM -5:00 PM

Pallets and cases over 100

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan – 2300 Lapeer Rd, Flint MI 48503
Please contact Tina Martinez 810.396.0230 (tmartinez@feedingamerica.org) before dropping off the donation.

Loose cases (non-pallet and less than 100)

Catholic Charities – 901 Chippewa Street, Flint, Michigan 48503
Please do not call the organization. They need to keep their lines open for clients.

WEEKENDS ONLY – 9:00AM -3:00PM

ALL water donations go to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan on weekends regardless of the size
Red Cross NO LONGER TAKING WATER DONATIONS.

LARGE COMPANY DONATIONS

Filters, faucets, multiple semis, etc., should be directed to FlintDonations@michigan.gov

Organizations Wanting to be a Distribution Site

Any church or 501c3 organization that would like to become a WATER distribution site should be directed to the Food Bank. They should call the Food Bank’s main line at: (810) 239-4441. This is for WATER only. The organization will need to staff and coordinate the distribution themselves. The state is currently not accepting anymore sites to distribute water, filters and test kits.

Where Can People get Water, Filters and Test Kits?

There are countless locations throughout the City providing just water, but something that is consistent and best to give callers is the 5 fire station locations. Residents can obtain water, filters, replacement cartridges and Lead Testing Kits at any of the 5 Fire stations.

The locations listed below are open during the indicated hours. They are also locations for bottle recycling:

LOCATIONS

Genesee County Land Bank: 2320 West Pierson Rd.
Greater Holy Temple: 6702 North Dort Highway
West Court Street Church of God: 2920 West Court St.

HOURS

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm

Tuesday and Friday: 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm

These Fire Stations listed below are open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m.

FIRE STATIONS

Fire Station #1 310 East 5th St.
Fire Station #3 1525 Martin Luther King Ave
Fire Station #5 3402 Western Road
Fire Station #6 716 West Pierson Road
Fire Station #8 202 East Atherton Road

These stations are staffed by National Guard members
Residents are NOT required to provide ID or an address. They are only asking for addresses as this is the best way for them to track which homes have test kits and filters. This change was made to hopefully encourage the undocumented and others to visit the fire stations. Once completed, residents should return their testing kit to a fire station.
WATER PITCHERS: The fire stations are currently NOT distributing the water pitchers as they are low in stock. Pitchers are only being given to someone if the faucet mount PUR/Brita filters will not fit the faucet. Individuals need to call 211 to get on this list. Before they receive a pitcher the person delivering will verify a faucet mount filter will not work. This may change if more Zero Water filters become available.

HOMEBOUND INDIVIDUALS

For people who truly have no way of leaving their home, they should call 211 to get on the home delivery list.

Please note: The sheriff’s department is about 1-2 days behind once a person calls 211. Also meals on wheels is providing water with every meal just in case the homebound individual is part of that program.

Donating Money

The United Way of Genesee County is accepting monetary donations for the purchase of filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts. One hundred percent of these funds are used for these projects and no administrative fee is assessed. Donations can be done either by:

Online at www.unitedwaygenesee.org, click the GIVE button. This will then provide a choice to designate to the Water Fund.

Checks mailed to: United way of Genesee County
P.O. Box 949
Flint, MI 48501
Memo line: Water Fund
*Note please add attention Cindy Cromwell

Please note: any remaining funds will be directed to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund at www.flintkids.org. This fund will provide aid to children and families with interventions that support positive health outcomes, such as:

Optimal child health & development
Early childhood education
Continuous access to a pediatric medical home
Access to infant and child behavioral services
Nutrition education
Healthy food access
Safe & healthy home environments
Integrated social services
Research

Solidarity Note

Any union, in or out-state looking to consolidate efforts, for participation options and to have your activities documented, please contact Cindy Cromwell, AFL-CIO Labor Liaison (office: (810) 762-5827 or Email: ccromwell@unitedwaygenesee.org
All UAW activity should be brought to the attention of Teresa McGinnis at uawlaborliaison@unitedwaygenesee.org