In April 2014, residents of Flint, MI found out that a change in their water source made to reduce costs actually brought unhealthy levels of lead to the city’s water. In turn, thousands of men, women, and children developed health issues related to lead contamination. Five years later, they still battle lead issues. Last year, Newark officials found elevated levels of lead in their water. In October 2018, they began handing out water filters to help hold over residents until the issue could be resolved. Earlier this month, EPA officials found that the city’s main water source still contains extremely high levels of water. Now, they’re handing out bottled water to residents until they can get the lead problem under control. As a call to action for Westfield residents, we’re being asked to help our neighbors in Essex County by donating bottled water over the next few days.
Westfield Residents Asked to Donate Water
After hearing about this problem in Newark, Assemblyman Jamel Holley with the 20th Legislative District of New Jersey asked his fellow Union County residents to donate water to the City of Newark. The Westfield Neighborhood Council heeded his call to action. They organized a series of collection times and places for residents to drop off bottled water to bring to the good people of Newark. If you visit the Westfield Street Fair tomorrow, the WNC will have a booth set up at the South Ave Train Station. They’ll be accepting all water donations there from 11 am to 4 pm. If you can’t make it then, stop by the WNC headquarters on Cacciola to drop off your donation. Everything collected will be transported to Newark and distributed to households that need it.
Where/When to Donate
- Saturday, Aug 17th – Westfield Train Station (South Ave) from 11 am to 4 pm
- Sunday, Aug 18th – WNC headquarters (127 Cacciola Pl) from 10 am to 12 pm
- Monday, Aug 19th – WNC headquarters from 7 pm to 9 pm
- Tuesday, Aug 20th – WNC headquarters from 12 pm to 2 pm
- Wednesday, Aug 21st – WNC headquarters from 1 pm to 3 pm & 7 pm to 9 pm
If you cannot make any of the drop-off times listed above but would still like to donate water, please contact Ahisha Quallis via email to make other arrangements. Thank you.