East Providence woman returns from trip to Flint
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
A local woman from East Providence traveled to Flint, Michigan for four days to assist the community as they battle an on-going contaminated water crisis.
"Some people described their hair falling out, I noticed some of their skin was like compared to alligator skin, very rough, blisters,” said Patrice Maina.
Patrice Maina of East Providence reflected on some of the horror stories she heard while visiting residents in Flint.
"We raised a little over 2,300 cases of water,” Maina said.
She organized a water drive in East Providence and with the help of a few students from Brown University, she delivered all of those cases to families in need.
"They’re using bottled water for everything,” Maina said.
The problem started when state leaders switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River to save money, but it backfired when high levels of lead were discovered in that water. Maina took a trip to the river and was horrified by how dirty it was.
"I thought that it was just going to be like people that were going through some water issues but when I saw the amount of poverty, it was like being in another country,” said Maina.
Maina, along with dozens of other Rhode Islanders met up Saturday for a fundraiser in an effort to raise more money for the Michigan community.
"I’ve met Mayor Weaver from Flint and I’m going to reach out to her directly. I took a photo and I’m going to let her know that we here in Providence, we have her back. We stand in solidarity with them and we’re doing what little we can but what we can to help out the situation there,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
Maina is starting up the "Flint Challenge." She’s encouraging people to turn their faucets off for 24 hours and only use bottled water. If you do take the challenge, she asks that you post a minute video online describing your experience.
