While many sat down to enjoy an evening of Super Bowl 50 with family and friends on Sunday, Feb. 7, Oxford students and parents from Oxford High School’s FIRST Robotics Team 2137 ? TORC, the Athletic Boosters, and an Oxford Moms group gathered to deliver 3,100 cases and gallons of water that they collected to Flint.
After spending seven hours the previous day loading a 57 foot semi-truck, donated by Personal Touch Moving, the group traveled to Kettering University in Flint, where they joined forces with seven other FIRST Robotic teams who joined the water drive effort.
The other teams were Tesla of Flint, Thunder Chickens of Sterling Heights, That One Team of Belmont, Fighting Pi of Armada, The ART of Technology of Burton, Lighting Robotics of Canton, and R.O.B.O.T.I.C.S. of Holland.
The teams worked together to collectively garner 3,100 cases and gallons of water, $1,350 of monetary donations, eight storage totes of school supplies, and to unload the semi-truck at the Foss Avenue Food Bank in Flint.
‘It is truly amazing seeing all those teams together working to help out a community in need,? said TORC member Caity Hopman. ‘I never thought it would turn out to be this big of a project but it did and it was worth it.?
Over the course of two hours, the students unloaded the water by forming a bucket brigade and using a forklift and pallet jacks. The water was loaded into the recreation center at the Foss Avenue Food Bank, where water is distributed Tuesday ? Friday each week.
‘I was completely blown away by the overwhelming dedication and commitment of Team TORC and the Oxford community to this water bottle drive for the people of Flint,? said Bob Nichols, director, FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University. ‘I want to personally thank the eight FIRST robotics teams that showed up Sunday? It was a truly awesome site.?
The week prior to delivery, Oxford Athletic Boosters were made aware that because Flint Schools could not accept additional water due to storage issues, they were requesting school supplies in lieu of the water.
The school supplies were delivered to the Flint School System this past week.
‘Working with others was a great experience for a great cause,? said TORC member Victoria Funke. ‘I was happy being a part of a solution and making a difference.?
Students and parents were able to meet some of the residents living across the street from the food bank and personally give them cases of water. Residents shared stories of children plagued by skin rashes, hair loss, and illness as a result of the lead tainted water. ‘It was sobering to hear the day to day struggles the residents of Flint face and to see the look of concern for their children in their eyes,? Oxford School Board Vice President and TORC mentor Kim Shumaker. ‘At the same time, it was such a blessing to see our students display compassion and servant hood to total strangers.?
Team 2137 ? TORC has also reached out to Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Robotics and Inventor of the Segway, for assistance. Kamen has worked tirelessly to invent systems that provide safe drinking water and came up with the ‘Slingshot device,? an energy efficient ‘vapor compression distiller? that turns virtually any unfit water into clean water, without filters or chemicals.
TORC is hopeful that Kamen’s invention might be useful for Flint residents, businesses, or schools. Specifically, TORC is concerned for Whaley’s Children’s home in Flint, which reportedly has extremely high levels of lead (2000 parts per million) in their water.
‘We’re just high school kids getting together and making a difference,? said TORC member Austin Purdy. ‘It was amazing to see all the different teams that compete against each other at competitions come together as one to help the Flint community.?
‘These kids began this project and the outcome far exceeded their expectations. I couldn’t be more proud of them. It was emotional for me to watch all these young people come together and make an impact for the community of Flint,? added Vice President of Oxford Athletic Boosters Danielle Wernis. ‘A difference was made today, along with new friendships and memories. They should all be proud of what they accomplished.?
Team 2137 ? TORC and the Oxford Athletic Boosters would like to thank the following for their generous assistance: Kettering University, Legacy Center, Personal Touch Moving, Paradigm Plumbing & Mechanical, M.P.D. Welding, North Oakland Dental Group, Pine Tree Lighting & Furniture, Oxford High School, Oxford Fire Dept., Oxford Library, The Den, Kingsbury Country Day School, Oxford Middle School, Oxford Moms and all who donated water and monies toward the effort.