Two Ways To Give To CoCoDA
1. Send a check to:
CoCoDA, 5055 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46224
2. Make a single or monthly donation via credit card:
All donations will be designated to the General Fund unless directed toward a specific project.
Donations to CoCoDA are tax deductible.
A Different Kind of Bucket Challenge
I never quite understood the attraction of pouring a bucket of ice water over your head, even if it was for a good cause. For those of us working in Central America, water is a precious commodity. I suppose my discomfort came from knowing the time and sweat expended by many people in order to obtain a bucket of water.
My greatest surprise in working in Central America was discovering how little I appreciated the benefits of my easy access to water. Access to clean water results in better health and increased quality of life, but it also brings the gift of freedom. When water is scarce, women and children spend most of their day obtaining it.
Walking To Water
In order to appreciate the luxury of clean water, my eight year old daughter and I grabbed two buckets and decided to walk from our house to the nearest water source - Eagle Creek. It took us twenty minutes to walk a half a mile on level sidewalks to the creek. This, in itself, was a luxury. One of the paths to a spring in El Salvador is so steep it is called the "walk of death."
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Once we arrived at the creek, we were greeted by signs warning that the water was unfit for human consumption. We filled our buckets and carried them home - a twenty-five minute journey. In other words, obtaining three gallons of water took us almost an hour and we couldn't drink it.
**Watch a one minute video of our walk**
Our Challenge
Ella and I have a bucket challenge for you, your family or your friends. We challenge you to grab a couple of buckets and walk to your nearest natural water source. Fill your buckets, walk home and figure out how long it took you to obtain water. Take a picture or video of yourself with your buckets and post it on your Facebook page with this challenge.
"It took us (your time) minutes to obtain water from our nearest natural water source. In solidarity with those who make this journey every day, we are making a donation of ($1 for each minute) to CoCoDA to bring clean water to people in Central America. Take the CoCoDA Bucket Challenge, make a donation and post your picture or video."
Ella and I are making a donation of $45 to CoCoDA so people in Central America can focus less on water and more on work, family, school and life.
Our bucket challenge may not raise a million dollars or go viral, but every dollar will eliminate the need for women and children to spend their days carrying buckets of water.
