Wellspring for the World will hold its 11th annual Wine to Water celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at Bella Caffe in downtown Park Rapids.
The event is open to the public at no charge.
“Wine to Water is a tribute and thank you to the hundreds of people in this area who have supported Wellspring’s goal of providing clean water worldwide,” said Mark Larsen, president of the local Wellspring for the World chapter.
According to a news release, guest speaker David Derr, who recently returned from a trip to Zambia, “will give a firsthand account of how money raised in Park Rapids has changed the lives of thousands through Wellspring’s partnership with World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization, and the leading nongovernmental provider of clean water in the developing world.”
Contributed/Wellspring for the World
Derr is senior director for philanthropy for World Vision. He is also the son of Jack and Joy Derr of Park Rapids.
Wine to Water guests will have the opportunity to walk on a large floor mat that is used in Zambia, and elsewhere, to teach proper hygiene and sanitation practices to children in communities where World Vision works.
“It is critically important to teach children things like how to properly wash their hands, especially in the most rural areas,” explained Derr, adding, “We are finding that children will then encourage their parents and caregivers to also wash properly, resulting in even more people in the community keeping their families safe.”
Contributed/Wellspring for World
Chris Pope, a World Vision senior area director of philanthropy, will also give a presentation.
“Together with our donors and partners like Wellspring, World Vision is committed to reaching 30 million people with access to clean water by 2030,” Pope stated in a news release.
Over the past 12 years, the local Wellspring chapter has funded 1,180 water points (wells), bringing access to clean water to approximately 354,000 and adults in Africa and other parts of the world.
Questions may be directed to Larsen at 701-215-0565.
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