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The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Charities is sending water and ready-made baby formula to residents of Flint, Michigan.

COGIC Charities, the benevolent arm of the Church of God in Christ, is providing ready-made infant formula and water to Flint, Michigan residents.

For the next couple of months, or until supplies are depleted, several COGIC churches in Flint will serve as distribution centers providing much needed water and baby formula to thousands of Flint residents.

COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. says, “There are more than 60 Church of God in Christ congregations in Flint, Michigan. When we heard about the crisis, we immediately began to mobilize and strategize how we as an organization could help our members and residents.” He added, “The leadership of the Church of God in Christ cannot stand silent as the innocent children of Flint and their parents suffer the ravages of poisonous water. We stand with these parents, and with all the residents, to call for the speedy, permanent restoration of clean drinking water.”

For more information about COGIC Charities “Water For Flint,” please visit us at www.cogic.org.

In recent months, the employees at Catholic Charities – who were affected by the water pollution themselves – have been a vital resource for a struggling community.

“We’re all doing whatever it takes at ground level to just do what we’re doing, serve our communities and keep our head above water,” Schulz said.

Catholic Charities is offering help, starting with the most vulnerable – children, infants and the unborn.

“Since about October, November we’ve been giving either a case of water or a gallon jug of water to every mother coming to pick up diapers,” Schultz said, so that mothers can use fresh water in formula and other care for their children.

The organization is also ensuring that its foster children receive the care – and access to clean water – they need. This means lead tests, water filters and regular cases of water. The same is true for the other houses run by Catholic Charities and the services that it offers.

In addition, the water crisis is forcing the organization to reconsider its future plans. Schultz told CNA that she has been planning for years to create a space for homeless clients in Flint to shower and do laundry, and that the project was moving forward.

Now, however, those plans have to be reconsidered. “I don’t know if we’ve even incorporated anything about a water filtration system. And now I’m thinking we have to do that,” she said. “We have to think ahead because if the city doesn’t have this resolved and we’re in the process of renovating a building – we have to think about it.” Schultz noted that similar concerns over adding filtration systems are affecting hospitals, schools and other community services.

The challenges brought by the water crisis raise serious questions as to what the future of Catholic Charities services will look like. “There’s so many pieces and we’re not set up with the infrastructure to deal with the crisis,” Schultz admitted.