SEQUIM — Staci Torres hopes to pour castoff goods into a well in Africa.
A six-year resident of Sequim, Torres recently learned of Life Outreach International, a Christian organization that has set the goal of drilling 200 wells in five of Africa’s most impoverished countries.
$4,800 a well
Each well, at a cost of $4,800, will provide clean water for a village of 1,000 people, said Chris Banning, spokesman for Life Outreach, a 40-year-old ministry based in Euless, Texas.
Torres sought more information and learned the organization seeks to provide wells in rural areas of Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“My heart breaks when I see them drinking polluted water,” Torres said. “I am so thankful that we have clean water to drink here.”
This summer, Torres, who is activities director at Sequim’s Suncrest Village Retirement Community, is taking action: She’s planning a rummage sale and inviting the whole community to take part.
“Do your summer cleaning, and anything you don’t want that is in good condition, please donate,” she said. “You can either drop off your items” at her home or have them picked up.
The sale is set for Saturday, Aug. 8, and Torres is evaluating locations in Sequim.
She hopes, however, to gather donations in the coming weeks and urges contributors to phone her at 360-477-9459.
She welcomes help with organizing the sale.
Torres also is seeking monetary contributions.
“People say, ‘This isn’t a good time,'” she said. “But we have a wonderful opportunity to provide people with clean water for life.”
Torres added that, instead of limiting her campaign to one local organization, such as a church, she wanted to involve the entire community.
For information about Life Outreach International, visit www.LifeToday.org.
Donation checks should be made out to Life Outreach and mailed to Torres at 130 Shawne Lane, Sequim, WA 98382.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
