Flint, Michigan is currently battling one of the worst water lead contamination crises in recent memory. It started in April 2014, when the city of Flint switched its water source to the Flint River. For over a year, residents complained about the taste, smell and look of the water following the switch. The lead levels in the water continued to rise for Flint, but the state of Michigan did not act on the findings. Eventually, the federal government stepped in and declared a state of emergency for Flint, with the water still undrinkable. Eight lawsuits have been filed over the water crisis and four government officials have resigned.
In the past month or so, numerous celebrities and athletes have helped put the city of Flint. Below, you can find who the athletes that have helped so far are and what they've done to help. In addition to the names below, Magic Johnson and Tom Izzo have spoken out about the crisis.
Detroit Lions DE Ziggy Ansah
Ansah, with the help of a few other Lions teammates, shipped 94,000 bottles of water to Flint.
Washington Redskins DT Terrance Knighton And Teammates
Knighton sent 3,600 bottles of FIJI Water to Flint, with the help of his fellow defensive linemen.
Former NBA Player Rasheed Wallace
Wallace drove a truck filled with cases of water from North Carolina to Flint last week.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have helped out Flint in several different ways, starting with the team donating $500,000 as part of their FlintNOW effort. In addition, team owner, and Flint native, Tim Gores has pledged at least $10 million to help with the efforts. Finally, forward Marcus Morris has visited Flint in January to help distribute water.
Justin Forsett
The Ravens running back is the co-founder of California-based company ShowerPill, which is donating $100,000 in body wipes, baby wipes and water. There are 20 players contributing to the ShowerPill efforts, with every name found below.
Eugene Monroe, Jeremy Butler, Steve Smith and Jeremy Zuttah from the Baltimore Ravens
Sam Acho, Chicago Bears
Glover Quin, Don Carey, Darius Slay, Darryl Tapp, Nevin Lawson, Haloti Ngata and Josh Wilson from the Detroit Lions
Tyler Clutts, Dallas Cowboys
Quentin Demps, Houston Texans
Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers
Matt Hasselback, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
Case Keenum, Los Angeles Rams
Alterraun Verner, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Forsett is heading to Flint to help this week. Joining him is Torrey Smith and possibly Marshawn Lynch.
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