Houlton Rotary donates $2,500 to international water project

    Houlton Rotary is well known for donating time and money to local projects and events; but, staying true to its commitment of spreading goodwill across the globe, the club continues to make donations to an international project helping thousands of people access clean water.  On March 19, the Houlton Rotary donated $2,500 to support a long-term endeavor to install plastic biosand water filters in households throughout the sugarcane villages of La Romana, Dominican Republic.
    This project gained momentum when Dr. Bob Chagrasulis, a Calais Rotarian, brought it front and center to Rotarians throughout Northern Maine and New Brunswick. Since its inception, the project has placed more than 2000 water filters in the impoverished villages.
Contributed photo
GUEST SPEAKER — Bob Chagrasulis, middle, was the guest speaker recently at the Houlton Rotary Club. With Chagrasulis are President Scott Dionne, left; and Craig Bean, Houlton Rotarian.
    For the past two years, Rotarians from our region have traveled with Dr. Chagrasulis to place the water filtersin the small huts the sugar cane cutters and their families call home.  Dr. Chagrasulis has seen how clean water has changed the lives of villagers, especially children.  Where once he saw numerous babies suffering and dying because of the dirty water they drink, he sees babies growing up healthy.
    The $2500 donated by Houlton Rotarian will be combined with donations from other Rotary clubs in our region. These funds then get matched by funds from Rotary International.  In all, this project will receive $100,000 this year.