JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — ‘I’m a Star Foundation Teen Influencers’, Duval County Public Schools and JaxParks are hosting an event to collect safe drinking water to send to Jackson, Mississippi.
In response to a request from Jackson Public Schools, the organizations are collaborating to collect and send clean water specifically to help children under age 6 and pregnant women.
The Mississippi Water Drive event takes place Sunday, September 25, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the James Weldon Johnson Park located at 135 W Monroe St. in Jacksonville.
First Coast Residents are invited to this free, public event to drop off bottled water.
Last Thursday, Mississippi health officials lifted a boil-advisory in the water crisis and Jackson city officials followed Saturday by stopping the distribution of free bottled water. But state officials say lead in some pipes remains so worrisome that pregnant women and young children should still use bottled water.
Experts say children in Jackson, MS who drink the tap water are at high risk of lead poisoning.
Medical officials say this is important because of the following facts:
- Lead is a poison
- Lead can cause learning disabilities, mental retardation, and other serious health problems
- There is no safe level of lead. Low levels of lead can harm children
- Lead is especially dangerous to children under 6
- 3,158 Pre-K and Kindergarten students in Jackson, Mississippi.
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