charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

It’s hard not to think about water today. In the western world, we face growing concerns about our stewardship of the world’s most precious resource. There’s talk of shortages, evidence of reservoirs and aquifers drying up, and of course, plenty of people who simply don’t care.

But forget about us.

Most of us have never really been thirsty. We’ve never had to leave our houses and walk 5 miles to fetch water. We simply turn on the tap, and water comes out. Clean. Yet there are a billion people on the planet who don’t have clean water.
It’s hard to imagine what a billion people looks like really, but one in eight might be easier. One in eight people in our world don’t have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can’t imagine going 12 hours without.
Here, we’d like to introduce you to a few of those billion people. They are very real, and they need our help. They didn’t choose to be born into a village where the only source of water is a polluted swamp. And we didn’t choose to be born in a country where even the homeless have access to clean water and a toilet.
We invite you to put yourself in their shoes. Follow them on their daily journey. Carry 80 pounds of water in yellow fuel cans. Dig with their children in sand for water. Line up at a well and wait 8 hours for a turn.
Now, make a decision to help. We’re not offering grand solutions and billion dollar schemes, but instead, simple things that work. Things like freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters. For about $20 a person, we know how to help millions.

Start by helping one.

A group of 30-35 guys who attended Eastlake Church were part of a growth group called Band of Brothers. This group met weekly to enjoy fellowship and discuss topics on faith, love and what it is to be a Christian male in today’s world.

Around the Holiday season it was suggested that we rally the troops to help a group of single mothers in the church, to give them an opportunity to provide a better Christmas for their children. In passing the hat around during a growth group meeting we were able to raise $1,800! The money raised was then given to those in need in the form of gift cards, with which Thanksgiving meals, clothes and Christmas presents were purchased.

Upon immediately realizing the tremendous Impact that our efforts could have, we decided to pursue the path of charity that God was so clearly encouraging us to pursue. Thus BOBs (Band of Brothers) Wish List was born, with which a website was created, a network of like minded individuals was formed and the mission of helping others began to take shape.

What began as an idea to help put presents under the trees of those less fortunate in our church community, became in mere months, an official, state and government recognized, non-profit corporation. BOBswishlist quickly outgrew not only its namesake but its overall scope and sphere of influence as well. While Band of Brothers Northwest (BOBNW) was born out of the ashes of the wishlist, the underlying mission and overall purpose still remained the same; to help others in need.

Drawing on the support of our friends, family, fellow churchgoers, and other members of our community, BOBNW has been able to help people all over western Washington and beyond. Fire victims who’d lost everything including loved ones, memorial service catering for 300, a 6 year old Leukemia patient, household items/clothing for individuals who were down on their luck; and the list continues to grow. We would undoubtedly be remiss if we neglected to mention that some of our biggest supporters in this mission have been the Seattle Seahawks and their wives, who’ve been absolutely instrumental in our efforts to date, for which we owe them all a sincere debt of gratitude.

There is no question that God has amazing things planned for our organization. We are reminded daily just how expansive his love, grace and mercy are; by the amazing people, opportunities and gifts he continues to bestow upon us. For all of which; we remain eternally grateful.