Local charity partners with 15 Metro East businesses to celebrate World Water Day

The Marion Medical Mission will partner with 15 in Belleville, O’Fallon and Edwardsville to mark World Water Day on March 22.
Restaurants and one chiropractic office will donate a portion of their proceeds that day to help raise funds for Marion Medical Mission, which provides safe, sustainable sources of drinking water for the extreme poor in Africa.

World Water Day is an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. World Water Day has been celebrated around the world with a variety of events since 1993. UNICEF reports that in sub-Sahara Africa, one in five children die before their fifth birthday because they lack potable water. 663 million people around the globe rely on ponds, streams and other exposed and untreated sources for their drinking water. For just a $450 donation, Marion Medical Mission provides an African village of approximately 125 people with a sustainable source of safe drinking water. The organization, based in Marion, Ill., has brought clean water to over four million people throughout Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.

Kimberly Richey, Marion Medical Mission’s director of development, says, “I’m very excited that so many businesses in our community are willing to work together to raise awareness of this very serious world problem. Four million children die every day because of water-borne disease – these are 100 percent preventable deaths. Everyone who dines out at one of these participating restaurants during the promotion will learn a little about the global water crisis and help us make a big difference around the world.”

Participating businesses:
Each business will be donating 5 percent of their proceeds from 5 to 9 p.m. unless stated otherwise.

1818 Chophouse
210 S. Buchanan St.
Edwardsville

1818 Chophouse
1405 N Green Mount Road No. 100
O’Fallon IL 62269

Beast Craft BBQ Co.
20 South Belt West
Belleville

Bella Milano
455 Regency Park
O’Fallon

Bennie’s Pizza Pub
124 E. Main St.
Belleville

Copper Fire
200 E. Main St.
Belleville

Hofbräuhaus St. Louis
123 St. Eugene Drive
Belleville

Mi Casa
4311 W. Main St.
Belleville

Pour @ 322 Coffee
322 E. Main St.
Belleville
(note hours: 3-7 p.m.)

Seven
7 S. High St.
Belleville

Sweet Katie Bee’s Cupcake & Coffee Bar
212 E. State St.
O’Fallon
(note hours: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Syberg’s O’Fallon
1310 Central Park Drive
O’Fallon

Tavern on Main
301 E. Main St.
Belleville

Uncle Nick’s Deli
3030 Frank Scott Parkway W Belleville
(Note hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

TriForce Chiropractic
904 Highway 50
O’Fallon IL 62269
Dr. Eric Toennies is donating 50 percent from his office the entire day.

Contact Kimberly Richey, director of development, at (618) 980-2267 or visit the website at www.mmmwater.org for more information.