SMS Water Project 2024-2025

For the past 11 years, Sashabaw Middle School and our mission have partnered for an incredible project called, “The Fresh Water Perspective”. We had the honor of meeting and working on a previous Flip Flop drive with teacher, Mrs. Bertin, and that project quickly evolved into Mrs. Bertin’s idea of connecting our water filter installation project to this SMS service-learning project. Over the years, SMS students, staff and families have helped to sponsor 215 water filters, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT this has made for those living in poverty.

Our mission started work in Honduras, Central America in 2007. We have many different mission projects including our Child Sponsorship Program, Shining Stars Scholarship Program, Project Backpack, many community events to feed starving children and families, projects to deliver food and needed items to those living in the dump, and our Water Filter Installation Project. These projects run year-round in Honduras and are supported by our fundraising efforts and projects in the USA (mainly Michigan and Indiana).

Our mission was founded by Erica (Cale) Maldonado at the age of 15 in Clarkston, with loving support from her family and this community. Erica grew up in Clarkston and was homeschooled during high school when she and her family began mission work in Honduras. Erica believes that anyone can make a difference in the world, no matter your age, which is another reason why this project is so special….6th graders MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!

Each water filter is expected to last a minimum of 10 years, but manufacturers say with proper care they can last a lifetime. With each water filter installation in homes, schools and community centers, our mission trains those who will be using the filters to make sure they receive the proper care to last a lifetime! Those who receive filters are currently drinking contaminated water from rivers, canals, and any water source they can find. These water sources are extremely contaminated with parasites and waterborne illnesses from people and animals bathing in that water, runoff from makeshift bathrooms near the water sources, among many other causes. It is truly heartbreaking to witness people drinking this water, especially when we meet newborn babies drinking this water out of a bottle (due to lack of maternal milk supply and lack of funds for formula).

We cannot express how grateful we are for SMS, Mrs. Bertin and all who help to make this a successful life changing project, year after year. Your projects, ideas, planning, fundraising and efforts are making a direct impact for those living in extreme poverty. THANK YOU!

Every February our mission takes a team of missionaries to Honduras and during this trip we are able to install the filters sponsored by SMS.  WE are personally receiving the funds collected by all of you, purchasing the water filters, shipping them to Honduras, purchasing the buckets in Honduras, and personally installing the filters for those in need. THANK YOU for making this possible!