Dubuque to Send Almost 300, 000 Water Bottles to Flint, MI

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has authorized $30 million in aid to help people living in Flint to pay their water bills. State regulators failed to require Flint to treat river water with anti-corrosion chemicals after the city changed its water source in 2014. That allowed lead in the city's aging pipes to get into the water, making it undrinkable.

Snyder says Flint residents shouldn't have to pay for water they can't drink. The plan will pay up to 65 percent of the water portion of their utility bills. But that assistance still doesn't solve Flint's drinking water crisis.

Earlier this month, Dubuque organization, "Resources Unite," began collecting bottled water for people in Flint.

The organization hoped to collect 24,000 bottles of water. Instead, they collected nearly 300,000 bottles. Truck load after truck load of cases of water are filling up storage space at Green Acres storage in Dubuque. So far volunteers have loaded up hundreds of pallets of bottled water and water jugs.

Organizers say they put the call out for donations via social media and word of mouth. They say the message spread across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Resources United director Josh Jasper says most people really just want a way to feel like they are doing something to help.

"At the end of the day and at the end of people's lives, all that matters is they got involved and made a difference. That's what matters," Jasper said.

Several businesses donated storage space and the trucks to help with the cause. Volunteer truck drivers will leave Dubuque on March 4. By then, Jasper is expecting to have 9 full semi loads of water.