More than a decade ago, Shine 104.9 (KEEH-FM) began a partnership with Water for Life, a Spokane, Washington based charity that works to build wells in Guatemala.
Darin Patzer, Shine 104.9 general manager, recently traveled to Guatemala with volunteers from Water for Life to visit rural villages benefiting from the wells.
“I got to experience, first-hand, the joy of the villagers in receiving new wells. It was rewarding," said Patzer. "Because of the donations from our local community in the Pacific Northwest, the lives of babies are being saved each year, and the quality of life [for] villagers is enhanced through fresh water and [by] learning of the Living Water offered by Jesus."
Shine 104.9, the Upper Columbia Conference radio ministry holds an annual one-day, on-air Water for Life event to raise money for the organization. All together, listeners typically pledge between $15,000–25,000 to the cause.
In addition to this event, during Shine's annual Sharathon fundraising event, listeners are asked if they would allow $5 of their donation to be given to other ministries, including Water for Life. The funds generated from this partnership have assisted Water for Life in drilling and maintaining approximately 200 wells in Guatemala.
To learn more about Water for Life, visit guatemalawells.com.
Darin Patzer, Gary and Rod Bartholomew celebrate a new well with drillers, Bible workers and villagers.
