Church Members to Sell H2O at Festival, Donations will Help Others Worldwide

Just as they have done for the last many years, members of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Downers Grove will be cheerfully selling water for $1 per bottle at their Heritage Festival booth in downtown Downers Grove July 26-28.  This year all water sale proceeds will be going towards a particular cause:  the United Nations (U.N.) Millennium Development Goal #7 of working towards environmental sustainability.

The U.N. and Episcopal Church Women (ECW) all across the United States have been focusing major volunteer and fundraising efforts for the past few years towards the U.N.’s eight Millennium Development Goals created to respond to major development challenges in the world's poorest countries by 2015. These goals are providing a key focus for Anglicans worldwide, and locally, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Through bake sales and general donations, this past spring the ECW of Saint Andrew’s and the parish at large raised over $3,000 to go towards U.N. Millennium Development Goal #6, which is to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.   

“The money raised is going directly towards the purchase of more than 300 Malaria nets which combat mosquitoes and disease in underdeveloped countries,” explained Saint Andrew’s ECW Member Mary Jane Haley.  “With the money we earn from bottled water sales at Heritage Fest we will improve sanitation conditions and provide clean water in countries where this is needed.” 

All school age children at Saint Andrew’s will be very involved in fund-raising and education efforts targeted towards the Millennium Development Goals throughout 2008. The goals are understandable and resonate with young people. A $12.00 net protects a family from mosquitoes carrying malaria, and a donation toward a bottle of clean water offers other people a chance to have clean water too. 

“The eight Millennium Goals are a call for all ages young and old to take action and help change another person’s life for the better,” said Haley.  “We’ll provide cold water to Heritage Fest visitors and the donations will help people worldwide!”

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church welcomes all community members to join weekly worship services and special events at any time.