Wine To Water Restores Volunteer Program After Pandemic Pause

More than two years ago, global clean water nonprofit, Wine To Water was forced to put a growing volunteer program on pause due to the global pandemic. The program is open again with an expanded reach, bringing water filtration and well construction, thereby reducing bottled water dependence or a complete lack of clean water. The program is led by the dynamic former Texas A&M educator and anthropologist, Judy Nunez.

“The Wine To Water team springs into action whenever there is a need for clean water, but the pandemic made it challenging for many nonprofits to recruit and support volunteers outside of their own communities,” said Doc Hendley, a CNN Hero and the founder and international president of W|W. “Volunteers are critically important to the work of nonprofits because the donation of services allows other donations to go further and be applied to the cause served.”

W|W has several upcoming service trips including one to the Dominican Republic in December, where volunteers will build filters in the local factory. They will also deliver a filter to a home and share in the experience of the family taking their first sip of clean water. On a recent trip to Nepal, the mission included rehabilitating a well, painting a water tank, and visiting with school children. These experiences are designed to immerse volunteers in the community and culture in a way that is enriching for both the volunteer and those receiving the services.

A water emergency is occurring somewhere in the world at this moment, so there are ongoing relief efforts in the United States and around the world requiring volunteers. Wine To Water’s volunteer program involves students in a broader way. Nunez is working to grow student programs in colleges across the country, especially for domestic relief projects.

W|W leads emergency response to water crises. Part of its ongoing mission is the Filter Build program, which provides another volunteer experience. These filters have increased the capacity of W|W to provide clean water to those in immediate need.

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