H2O gives up sodas to raise funds
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Barry Halvorson Participants in the H2O program include: seated, from left, Kendall Watson, Shea Flynn and Blair Zahn; standing, Sarah Gubbels, Ashley Aaronson, Amanda Billings, Quiera Ragston and Christie Viktorin.

The current hot fashion accessory on the campus at Wharton High School is a simple blue wrist band that means a lot more than just being coordinated with school colors.

Resembling those temporary bands used at concerts and fairs for paid admission, the ones adorning the wrists of the students show support for the Interact Club's participation for The H20 project.

The H20 project asks participants give up buying soft drinks, coffee or other beverages - in cans, bottles, cups or glasses - and drink tap water for two weeks.

The money saved is then donated to various international organizations that drill fresh water wells in those parts of the world without clean water supplies.

"Most people here get into things and aren't aware of what they mean," club member Christie Viktorin said.

"But people see the wrist bands, think they're cool and ask about them. When we explain what they mean, people want to help out."

Teachers Stephanie Miller and Jennifer Kunetka are the WHS co-sponsors of the group. Miller said the club originally requested 50 of the wrist bands for distribution among club's 40 members.

She has since upped that request by another 100 to meet the demand from other students.

The two-week, fund-raising effort started on Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 16.

Club president Shea Flynn said the group got the idea from the club's Wharton Rotary sponsor Bruce Williams.

She said its been hard, but the wrist bands are a good reminder.

"I haven't totally given up drinking everything but water," she said.

"But I haven't been making daily runs to the Sonic during the day either. I haven't really kept up with how much I've saved, but I'm keeping track at home."

Vice-president Blaire Zahn had been following one of the recommendations of H20 by re-filling a bottle from the water fountain rather than buying bottled water.

In discussing her own experiences, club member Quiera Ragston said a lot of people initially thought the wrist band came from the hospital and have asked about it.

Like the other group members, she's been saving up what she would have spent on soft drinks to donate to the cause, saying the payoff will be worth it.

"I think it's pretty neat the idea that the Wharton Interact Club's name will show up on one of the wells that are drilled," she said.

Up to 1 billion people in the world lack access to clean water and that preventable water related diseases kill one child every 15 seconds, according to The H20 Web site.

Among the most dangerous illnesses are Cholera, a fatal disease; Guinea Worm, which can have crippling effects; and Trachoma, which can result in blindness.

The Web site also lists several different organizations sponsoring clean water projects.

For more information, log on to: www.theh20project.org.