Junior Sabrina Meleo and sophomore Julie Esmond offer a helping hand to struggling communities by raising funds to provide fresh water.
Q: What is the organization, what do you raise money for and how do you fundraise?
A: People Water is a bottled water company that works on a “Drop for Drop” basis. For every water bottle sold, the company ensures that an equal amount of water will be sent to a person in need. The company itself travels all around the world to build wells in third world countries, making sure that struggling communities are able to drink safe water. Our club works with the organization by holding fundraisers and selling water bottles on campus and in the Calabasas community. All the money we raise goes to the charity sector of People Water, and they use that money to fund their well projects.
Q: What inspired you to start this club at CHS?
A: We were inspired to start this club in an effort to end the worldwide water crisis. After searching for several water organizations, we discovered People Water was the perfect fit for us because of their Campus Ambassador program, which allowed us to partner up with the company heads and run our club smoothly.
Q: How many members are there in this club?
A: We have 25 members, and we are so lucky to surround ourselves with people who want to ensure that clean water is available to struggling communities.
Q: What have you specifically done at CHS to raise awareness?
A: Aside from selling water bottles on campus throughout the school year, we held Water Crisis Awareness Week during the second week of April. Our dedicated club members helped us paint posters and hang them up around campus. Every poster had a shocking fact about the devastating water crisis. During Water Crisis Awareness Week, we also held a shoe drive through a separate organization, WaterStep. This organization sends the shoes we have collected to start up businesses in third world countries where the profits are then used to go toward well creation.
Q: What events have you held?
A: Throughout the 2012-2013 school year, People Water Club has held fundraisers at Baja Fresh, Fresh Brothers, Pick Up Stix and Menchies and has sold bottles on campus at lunch during Water Crisis Awareness Week as well as on Earth Day. Whenever a CHS student purchases a bottle of water on campus, it is the same as purchasing the water through the company.
