My compañero (and fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) Rodney McDonald would like to tell you about a worthy campaign in northern Nicaragua, administered by the organization he helped found, Emergency Response Services for Latin America (ERSLA). He writes: "...give the gift of health and life to one family in one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Your gift donation can help save lives. Local firefighters are teaming up with ERSLA to help identify the families most at risk and provide them with a simple water filtration system that will keep them safe and healthy. Simple, yet effective."

They have to sell 84 more filters to meet the needs of the community and their goal. Learn more about these low-tech, low-cost, colloidal silver-enhanced ceramic water purifiers from Potters for Peace, who helped develop them.

From ERSLA: "The water filtration systems can eliminate up to 99.88% of water-born disease agents, and can filter enough water for the daily use of a typical family  Helping the local economy, the filter is produced in Nicaragua under the highest standards of quality controls to ensure their effectiveness and the filters can last for more than 5 years. Each $50.00 donation will purchase a water filter system for a needy family. The filters will be delivered to the families by local firefighters. www.ersla.org

They offer a PDF poster on their website which you can post in your local coffee shop, library, or grocery store:

Click here to make a tax deductible donation: www.ersla.org

Or just do it, $50 or whatever you can give. Make checks payable to:

BFF/ERSLA
c/o Bend Fire Department Condega Project
1212 SW Simpson
Bend, OR 97702