Bartender uses skills to provide Drinkable Water to Third World Communities

Drinkable Water is something we often take for granted

CNN just published a story (Bartender helps turn Wine into Water in Developing World) about Wine to Water, a non-profit focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world.

The organization is run by Doc Hendley, a bartender from North Carolina, who raises awareness and funds for his cause by hosting philanthropic wine parties.

Wine Tasting Events raise awareness of the World's need for drinkable water

According to data from the United Nations, at least one in six people in the world do not have access to safe and reliable water for drinking and hygiene.

Since 2004, Hendley has traveled to India, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Cambodia, working with local communities to build clean water wells and sanitation systems.

The CNN story has some really great videos of Hendley as he talks about his work, digs a well in the field, and gives presentations to Cambodian school children.   Hendley’s efforts greatly reduce villagers suffering from water-bourne illnesses, including giardia, and dysentary.

As Hendley speaks, he emphasizes not only the health benefits to his work, but also the local economic benefits too.  The drilling rigs he helps build,  install, and put into operation are all done with local materials, local vendors, and local workers. The emphasis on self-sufficiency is also big plus when maintenance isssues occur.  The villagers have the tools at hand and the proper “ownership” mentality to address the problems themselves.

River water in developing countries is not suitable for drinking

Wine to Water, is a fairly small operation, and according to their latest posted 990 report on guidestar.org, the non-profit operation had a modest revenue of about $140 thousand.   The Wine to Water website does not say how many total wells were dug with this money or how many people were provided with drinkable water, and this should be more transparent.  But worst case, even if it was just One Well, I would be willing to bet that not a single government agency in the US could dig a well overseas for $140K.  Therein lies the beauty of this

Wine to Water makes giving easy on PayPal

non-profit, and most non-profits in general.  Nothing works as well as a single driven person with a vision.

Paulano has donated a modest gift to Wine to Water, and I encourage readers of this post to do the same.

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