Hello, my name is Lance and I'm an activist/community leader located in Richmond, Virginia.is powered by rvacommunitycloset.com , and was created because we want to help the residents of Flint recover. The mission is to get my city and the world, actively involved in supplying the residents of Flint, Michigan with clean drinking water as a result of the contamination, and keeping the world aware of this ongoing crisis.I launched the #SaveFlintChallenge in June 2018 and we continue to call on others to start their own GoFundMe campaigns or fundraisers in their neighborhoods to get more bottled water to Flint, Michigan. Thanks to amazing people from all over the world, we've raised over $180,000 so far to provide bottled water and assistance to Flint resident -- but we won’t stop here, because Flint still doesn't have clean water. Accept the challenge.Flint's water crisis began in 2014 when the drinking water source for the city of Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the cheaper Flint River. The decision to switch the city of Flint’s drinking water source to the Flint River was pegged as a cost-cutting maneuver aimed at saving $5M over a two-year period.This community malpractice resulted in lead contamination in Flint's water, which poisoned tens of thousands of innocent people in this community.Researchers studying the Flint lead water crisis found a decrease in pregnancies, and an increase in fetal deaths among Flint women. Fertility rates dropped by 12% while fetal deaths rose by 58%. The water change is also responsible for an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the county that has killed 13 people and affected another 77.On April 6th, 2018, Governor. Rick Snyder announced the end of a free bottled water program in Flint, citing the water quality was acceptable, but that isn't the truth. The residents of Flint STILL struggle with unreliable drinking water, unless someone in the community like Little Miss Flint or Pastor Rob, provides it for them. Further investigation reveals the replacement of all the lead pipes necessary to provide clean water to Flint residents, won't be completed until 2020.Flint’s water service contract required the city complete a pipeline connecting it to the county’s water provider, Karegnondi Water Authority, by Dec. 31, 2019. It won’t be constructed by then because final designs for the project still haven’t been submitted.This is where the #SaveFlintChallenge comes in. Our mission is simple, we're fundraising to provide clean drinking water for the residents of Flint. If we reach our goals this campaign will transform into a relief mission to assist other areas with providing clean water, and we will expand our agenda to address other important issues like education, mental health, gun violence, etc.All funds will be personally withdrawn from our secured account, and donations received will be invested in maintaining this #SaveFlintChallenge campaign, our staff expenses and used to purchase bottled water from outlets we've chosen such as Meijer Grocery Store, BJ's Wholesale Club, CleanItSupply.com, Sam's Club, etc. & shipped directly to Flint, Michigan. Securing trucks is our most complicated task. As mentioned in our very first campaign update, our bulk bottled water pallet cost is roughly 278.00 per pallet (54 cases per pallet, 35 bottles per case) including delivery. We will also be making donations to other water distribution organizations serving Flint, and assisting random residents.West Court Street Church of God in Flint, Michigan will be one of several drop off destinations selected. If you are in the Richmond, Virginia area and want to directly donate cases of water please send me a direct message.2019 GoFundMe Heroes Award WinnerThewas honored in San Francisco at the GoFundMe Heroes Celebration, a first-time live event honoring 6 community-nominatedin front of a live audience. Watch the livestream here.December 25 2019: #RVAFlint #SaveFlintChallenge Christmas Gift & Water Giveaway.December 16, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's Flint Kids Christmas.September 11, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge 'Flint Story' was recognized by Flint's Mayor Karen Weaver.August 31, 2019: 38,800 bottles of water. 339 families served, all distributed in Flint, Michigan. The long line was expected, but we had a great team and helped some great people. Thank you Pastor Rob, Flint, and everyone supporting our #SaveFlintChallenge.August 14, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's Clean Water Fund.March 29, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's NYC Shorty Awards campaign.January-April 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge helped Flint’s West Court Church distribute water again. Water distributions were held weekly.December 30, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.December 30, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to West Court Street Church of God, and committed to funding their water distribution program for the entire first quarter of 2019.December 27, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.October 23, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated $1,951.48 to assist West Court Street Church of God with their water distribution program for November.August 18, 2018: 78,500 bottles of water. 489 families served, all distributed in Flint, Michigan. The line was wrapped around the block, but we had a great team and helped some great people. Thank you to everyone supporting our #SaveFlintChallenge.August 18, 2018: #SaveFlintChallenge Feed The Homeless & Pay It Forward event held in front of My Brother's Keeper homeless shelter in Flint, Michigan.August 12, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.Thank you for contributing and sharing our campaign.Sincerely,Lance (Campaign Organizer)Just because the Flint water crisis isn't trending, doesn't mean it's over.in Indianapolis accepted the #SaveFlintChallenge.Support Little Miss Flint here: https://t.co/jpKnw4TAgm Support Pastor Rob here: https://t.co/gVs0PCw3xX Tichina Arnold, Chris Long, Sean Cooper, Joyce Alene, Rosie O'Donnell, Debra Messing, Rosario Dawson, Geneva Carr, Rosanna Arquette, Chef José Andrés, Morgan Fairchild, Nancy Sinatra, Brie Larson, Sebastian Roché, Van Jones, Torraine Walker, Ben Stiller, Kerry Washington, Vivica A. Fox, Frances Fisher, Lou Diamond Phillips, Eric Lange, Sandra Bernhard, Monica Lewinsky, DL Hughley, Alyssa Milano, Chelsea Clinton, Paris Jackson, Chelsea Handler, David Arquette, Mira Sorvino, Asia Argento, David Hogg, Deepak Chopra, Jon Cooper, Melissa Peltier, Scott Dworkin, Ellen Barkin.GoFundMe Honors Good Samaritans at First Heroes Celebration: 'Amazing Things Are Happening.' https://t.co/Eaf568fopL How a quote from ‘Black Panther’ inspired this Richmond ‘hero’ to take action. https://wtvr.com/2019/11/01/lance-cooper-honored-by-gofundme/ Flint water prosecutors dismiss all charges, plan to start over after new investigation. https://t.co/TUoAKy9iBP Judge says US government can be sued for Flint water crisis. https://t.co/7L0VPDWFaD Save Flint Challenge Donations help Flint’s West Court Church distribute water again. https://t.co/7LWgs8yZro Flint Clean Water GoFundMe Campaigns Get Border Wall Boost. https://t.co/XdKEroVH6F Flint congressman says water is not safe to drink yet. https://t.co/WmZN9Ti4PY Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer says she will bring back free water bottle delivery to Flint when she takes office next month. https://t.co/nuaOr5Fxn7 Flint Water Crisis Deaths Likely Surpass Official Toll. https://t.co/ptzrVbLrr6 Let Flint serve as a warning: Congress must to do more to improve the nation’s infrastructure. https://t.co/egsbJMMzD1 Internal watchdog blasts EPA's response to Flint water crisis in blistering report. https://t.co/brRiCyGSbR In Flint, Michigan, there's so much lead in children's blood that a state of emergency is declared. https://t.co/tkrsEZrXo0 Flint water prosecutor amends charges against two state officials. https://t.co/j4XnzuUBIa