501CTHREE.org and Newark Water Coalition Launch the Waterbox

501CTHREE.org AND NEWARK WATER COALITION
LAUNCH THE WATERBOX

The first 501CTHREE.org Waterbox in Newark

[Los Angeles, CA] — [October 13, 2020] — 501CTHREE.org and the Newark Water Coalition (NWC) will be launching the Waterbox at St. Stephan's Grace Community, in the East Ward of Newark New Jersey  on Thursday, October 13th.

501CTHREE.org is a non-profit reimagined for the next generation and founded by long-collaborating partners Jaden Smith and Drew FitzGerald.  Since its inception in 2019 4 water boxes have been deployed in Flint, totaling over 19,000+ gallons of free water to community members and over 300,000+ 16 oz plastic bottles replaced. 

“We are thrilled to work with NWC as they are on the frontlines since the crisis occurred, we are inspired by their work and are eager to continue our partnership.” - Jaden Smith, Founder, 501CTHREE.org

The 501CTHREE.org Newark Waterbox launch is in collaboration with Newark Water Coalition at St. Stephan's Grace Community at 7 Wilson Ave Newark. The Waterbox launch is a culmination of the community training and testing being implemented by NWC this past month.  The clean water will be distributed and tested by the NWC to make it extremely transparent for the community.

“You have this inherent trust that you turn that faucet on, that water is clean and that water is safe to drink.  And in the city of Newark they can’t say that right now and that’s a problem. It’s been harder and harder especially with the pandemic to get these resources, so this has been an absolute blessing because it’s going to change the game completely for us.  Being able to connect it anywhere and provide this resource without going to a store, without needing money, this is going to change the Newark Water Coalition and the city of Newark.” – Anthony Diaz, Co-founder and “Dealer of Hope," Newark Water Coalition.

In response to COVID-19, the NWC began providing no-contact deliveries of water to people's homes. The NWC’s biggest challenge has been to secure water donations. The NWC had been receiving donations of water but during the Covid crisis stores began to limit the amount of water that can be purchased in bulk. The double crisis that has hit Newark is affecting families in terrible ways. Some Newark residents have reached out to NWC because they have no way to transport water or the funds to purchase water. These residents seek out the NWC because they know the NWC is a community organization that asks for nothing in return. The Water Box is the game-changer for the NWC and helps address issues that have risen out of this pandemic.

“Low income communities and communities of color disproportionately experience contaminated tap water.  We saw this problem most notoriously in Flint, but contaminated water is a problem throughout the country and that is why we are here with the community in Newark.” – Drew FitzGerald, Founder, 501CTHREE.org

Newark Water Coalition, the strategic partner of 501CTHREE.org in Newark, is working to inform and educate the residents and other consumers about the dangers and ailments that are associated with the contaminants in the water.

The NWC is calling on our government stakeholders, healthcare providers, faith and community-based organizations to make this public health crisis a priority, allocate the adequate funding to fix Newark’s infrastructure, test the people of Newark’s water, and provide clean water for all.  The main purpose of NWC is to educate the residents and mobilize them into organizing their communities to demand clean water for Newark.

“Children are always at the forefront of most of the organizing and education I provide. Having children no older than the age of 8 ask me if the water is safe to drink is heart wrenching. A child should never have to worry if their drinking water is safe. There are so many things our children need to thrive in Newark that they aren't provided. The most basic of those things is clean water. Knowing that we will have a resource available to them that will help them avoid exposure to lead, future health issues and neurological issues is the big deep breath I haven’t been able to take in the last 4 years.”  - Katt Ramos, Trainer & Educator, Newark Water Coalition

For more information about 501CTHREE.org and the Newark Water Coalition and to view further information on how to fund a jug or another Waterbox on behalf of the Newark Water Coalition, visit:

https://www.501cthree.org/waterbox-home

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About 501CTHREE.org

501CTHREE.org’s mission is to mobilize the next generation to fight climate change by creating a global community that embraces and understands accurate climate change innovation and technology. To sign up to learn about how you can get involved email info@501cTHREE.org.

About Newark Water Coalition

The Newark Water Coalition's mission is to educate the residents and mobilize them into organizing their communities to demand clean water for Newark.  https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/newark-water-coalition-water-box-fund