By Katie Winkler
Review staff reporter
Water to some may be thought of as an easily accessible resource, while those in other countries have difficulty receiving water and it may be contaminated.
Matt Setto, Orion Keg & Wine owner, is planning to help a village in Tanzania reap the benefits that we may take for granted.
About six months ago, Setto was waiting on a customer who told him about his experiences in Africa with students from Avondale High School. For someone who aspired to visit Africa, Setto was motivated to help those less fortunate.
‘He told me he went to visit a village in the middle of nowhere, between mountains. We heard about a pastor who did such a great job with this village,? Setto said. ‘I took his number and said I would call.?
Two weeks later, Aaron Donaghy, the Avondale High School teacher who took his students with him to Tanzania, brought the priest, Father Dietrich or ‘Bubba,? from Africa to Orion Keg & Wine to meet Setto.
His idea for visiting Tanzania grew from the meeting.
‘He came around the counter and I said to him that I wanted to come to Africa. The first word that came out of his mouth was ‘water.? He said it five times in 90 seconds,? Setto said.
Setto and Bubba worked together to figure out how much an irrigation system would cost to build, how long it would take, and other necessary components to this project. They determined it would cost about $47,000 to produced a water system that would deliver water to the Tanzanian village whose residents live miles away from their water supply source.
‘There are three miles to the mountain, where there is a very small spring,? Setto said. ‘What I am going to do is tap into that spring and bring it three miles. Every 100 yards, water will pump.?
In Setto’s mission statement, he claims that village members are walking to bring water to their families, which is sometimes unsanitary. The money raised will be used to create a main line to the supply. There are several costs to the project, including supplies and equipment, labor charges, plumbers and transportation charges.
In the last few months, students from Avondale and Setto have raised more than $17,300 towards this irrigation suppy line.
On top of raising the funds, Setto explained that he has to acquire an extended passport and get a variety of vaccinations.
‘This is something that isn’t a matter of ‘if? I’m going to do it, but ‘when,?? Setto said. ‘God tries to touch you if you are really serious to do something like this. He showed me the way, showed me what it takes and how to do it. I either shut up for the rest of my life and never say I want to go to Africa again or do something.?
‘The problem in Africa is there are only a few times you can go. In the summer, it’s too hot and the ground is too hard. In the winter, the snow melts and drowns everything. There are only certain times I can go over there and work,? Setto explained.
Regardless of what fundraising happens in the coming months, Setto said he will go to Africa. Upon arrival, Setto will stay for forty days to complete the project and help African families in anyway he can.
A wine tasting fundraiser for Water for Humanity will be held on October 16, at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club. Tickets are available at Oakhurst and Orion Key & Wine for $75 for one person, or $135 for two.
If you would like to make a donation to Water for Humanity, payment can be done online at stayclassy.org/fundraise’fcid=289174 or by check written out to Go Effect, address: 2250 South Baldwin Road, Lake Orion, MI 48360.