Our UCC church in Flint is Woodside Church. Rev. Deb Conrad is the pastor there. The Michigan Conference looks to Woodside Church and Pastor Deb for direction for the wider church response. They are engaged in a number of coalitions that are working together to identify priorities and garner support. Flint Democracy Defense League and the Coalition for Clean Water are two of those coalitions. Well intentioned efforts of assistance from "outside" can actually make things more difficult. For instance, bottled water donations are great and are needed, but the problem is finding the volunteers for distribution.The National Guard will stop going door-to-door today. Firehouses and churches will be primary distribution sites. If people make large donations of bottled water, we are encouraging them to find volunteers - or even better, pay people - to distribute. Elderly and Section 8 housing units especially need the water distributed directly because they don't have transportation to get to a free water site. The purchase and distribution of water filters for faucets is a more efficient and effective response. I was in Flint yesterday for meetings and to discern what unique role the UCC could play in helping alleviate the effects of this disaster. We will help raise money for Woodside Church to install a "point of entry" filtration system on their building. This will enable people to fill jugs and bottles at Woodside and reduce the enormous numbers of empty plastic bottles in Flint. Flint residents need solidarity as they seek not only the cessation of water shut-offs, but also refunds for water bills paid for poisoned water from the Flint River. We will work with Woodside in demanding tanker trucks ("water buffaloes") to distribute larger quantities of potable water in the neediest parts of the city. We will advocate with residents as they call for recruitment, training and paying of Flint residents to help with infrastructure repair and replacement. We will respond to requests from local food banks for donations of high protein food items and vitamins that can help children with elevated lead levels. We will work with residents in demanding long-term solutions from the State of Michigan, as well as accountability from those responsible for the poisoning. Many partners will be needed for a long time to support Flint residents in ways that they identify. Thanks again for your solidarity and support!

Saturday, January 30th Canvass - St. Michael's Church at 9am

We are launching canvass teams from St. Michael's Church (609 E 5th Ave, Flint, MI 48503) to canvass Flint's east side and public housing facilities across the city. We will be gathering to train canvassers at 9am, and launching canvasses across the city from 10am - 2pm. Please arrive ready to go at 9am! 

Dress warmly for the weather, and if you're able, bring snacks to share.

We could also use people willing to do data entry after 2pm. 

Sunday, January 31st Canvass - St. Michael's Church at 2pm 

(609 E 5th Ave, Flint, MI 48503) 

We will be canvassing to sweep the city on Sunday afternoon, launching again from St. Michael's. 

We will have ongoing canvassing in the community, so we will need volunteers to help with canvassing, data entry, distributing water and filters, and phone banking. 

Please sign up here if you're interested in volunteering on an ongoing basis. VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

Also please visit:  www.flintkids.org