Over 2 million people die each year from contaminated water, poor sanitation and hygiene. Tap water is a luxury many do not have, and bottled water is a short-term solution for a few. “Water with Blessings” Project has three components. The first is providing an inexpensive home-based water filtration system for people in these developing countries. This filter can be set up in five minutes, and it requires a five gallon container and a filtration kit. The Little Sisters of the Poor have Homes in such places as in Africa, Philippines, India, Peru, and other South American countries, that are need of water filtration. An employee of The Little Sisters of the Poor in Louisville, KY has taken the steps to involve the Little Sisters, Residents, staff, and volunteers of our Homes in the Chicago Province. Our plan is to provide and install a water filter, not only for the Homes of the Little Sisters, but for the people of those countries. St. Joseph’s Home in Palatine is inviting neighboring parishes to become involved in this mission.
The second component of our “Water with Blessings” is croqueting water filter socks. The sock is to prevent cracks if the filter is dropped, and also adds a personal touch to the filters provided for the families. The socks are the size of a toilet paper roll and takes about 15 – 30 minutes to crochet. St. Joseph’s Home has been able to send over 300 filter socks croqueted by the Little Sisters, Residents, staff, and volunteers.
The third component is “Water Women”. When four families receives a filter to share, which will last up to a million gallons of water, the mothers promise to pray every day at 1 p.m. Anyone can pray for all those who need clean water!
A couple weeks ago, one of our volunteers traveled to our Home in the Philippines and installed filters. Sr. Maria Guadalupe, (who was here a couple of years ago and is now at our Home in San Pedro) who is from Peru, installed filters during her recent home visit. Filters have also been installed in Africa.
The current needs include 1,000 crocheted filter socks for Ecuador, filters and socks for two newly formed Foundations of the Little Sisters in South America, and filters and socks in India.
If you would like to help with “Water with Blessings” through crocheting filter socks, prayer (which you can do at home) or even making a mission trip to install filters, please contact Cindy DeLuca at 847-358-5700 or volpalatine@littlesistersofthepoor.org. Please feel free to join us here on Mondays at 1:30 PM for our “Water with Blessings” Hour when we crochet, pray, and receive updates.
Volunteer Rem Reyes, with Mother Therese and Sr. Rosario, in the Philippines.
The Little Sisters of the Poor Embrace “Water with Blessings”