100 Wells Challenge

Giving to build wells and provide clean water

Every day, millions of women and children in developing countries walk several hours to collect water that is safe for their families to drink. Sadly, too often the water that they find is contaminated. Unclean water causes millions of people, especially young children, to contract preventable deadly diseases every year.

One in seven people still do not have access to safe drinking water and more than half of the diseases in the world are caused by unclean water.



ELCA World Hunger is concerned about the growing lack of clean water, especially among people who live in poverty around the world and in the United States. Yes, there are people in the United States who don’t always have access to clean water.

ELCA youth have the opportunity to support the clean water challenge by donating to the "100 Wells Challenge" in conjunction with the Gathering. Just $2500 could build a well that can bring clean water to as many as 500 families at a time. The 100 Wells Challenge unites the hopes of Lutheran youth across the country to raise $250,000 and support water projects where they are needed most.

Think about how many times you rely on clean water during the day, and give what you can to meet this challenge. There will be collection receptacles at the Gathering for your group’s contribution, or you can send a check at any time to ELCA World Hunger, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Be sure to put “100 Wells Challenge” in the memo line so that it can be totaled with other gifts.