Jones County teen collects cases of water for Flint water crisis

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One Jones County High School student raised several hundred cases of water for families in Flint, Michigan.

The junior tells 41NBC although months have passed since the water crisis received national attention, there’s still more work that needs to be done.

“At first it started off small and I was, like, kind of disappointed,” Jaylin Young said. “It’s getting bigger.”

She, along with friends and family, is collecting cases of bottled water — by the truckload — for people suffering from the Flint, Michigan water crisis.

“We came together and we devised a plan. We were like, well, why don’t we start out the water drive somewhere and then she was like we can start it at the school,” Young said.

The city’s drinking water is contaminated with lead.

Jaylin’s father is from Flint. Several of her relatives still live there. She says she had to do something.

“I immediately said that’s great, that’s fabulous. We’ll take it to our principal for approval,” Kahadija Baker, the school counselor, said.

With help from other schools in the county and people looking to give, there are more than 400 cases of water stacked up waiting to be delivered.

“It feels really good to know that in this world there are young people that are actually willing to take a stand and say they care and make action toward that faith and provide the work that will one day affect the change in someone else’s life,” Baker said.

A change Jaylin points out could be a trend for weeks to come.

“I wanted this to work out and if it continues going well, then we can expand the deadline for it,” Young said.

She says despite the distance and the challenge, anyone can be the change they want to see in the world.

“Anyone can make a difference, no matter how big or how small or how unnoticed you are, anyone can make a difference,” Young said.

The water drive started a month ago to the day. There’s still time to help as truckloads of bottled water continue to get donated.

You can drop off water at Jones County High School at 339 Cumslo Road, Gray, Georgia.