Drink Water

To Give Water

To the Editor:

Many thanks to the Newtown Community for supporting the Drink Water To Give Water campaign for Charity Water. Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to volunteer by running a drive to help raise money for their September campaign. Their goal was to raise $1.2 million by the end of 2011 (which they have achieved!) to buy a well-drilling truck and equipment which will build about 80 wells a year in Northern Ethiopia. My more modest goal was to help fund the cost of one well, which costs between $5,000 and $6,500.

Through the help of caring people at many great restaurants and other businesses in Newtown we will reach that mark. And if it were not for the generosity of the restaurant-goers of Newtown who stepped up and donated, it would never have worked. Despite our own and country’s economic challenges, people still reached into their pockets to help others on the other side of the world. Hopefully we can all appreciate that we still have it pretty good compared with much of the rest of the world.

I would like to thank the following participants — Bagel Delight, The Blue Colony, Carminuccio’s, Figs (my co-mvp), Franco’s Pizza, Happy Cheesesteak, Hideaway Café, Mona Lisa, Mexicali Rose (my other co-mvp), My Place, Newtown Deli, Pizza Palace, Swanky Franks, Sweet Mango, Stone River Grille, Tambascio’s ,and Village Square Diner.

Thanks also to Booth Library, Church Hill Physical Therapy, Club NewFit, Fun Kuts, Newtown Youth Academy, Newtown Car Wash, Preferred Insurance, and Tumble Jungle for their help too. Finally, thanks to Papa Al’s, Sal e Pepe and Armando’s in Bethel for their cash donations. In conclusion, I’m proud to say that with the help of a donor match, we will exceed our $6,500 fundraising goal with 100 percent of the money going directly to fund these Africa well projects. Thanks again and happy holidays to all.

David Plaue

37 Horseshoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook              December 21, 2011