EC Student Strives for Better Water, Better Planet

Makena Hall, Lincoln High School junior, is on a mission to encourage her school and her community “to come together to create a better tomorrow.”

Hall, is fundraising to implement the installation of water bottle filling stations at Lincoln. She is hoping to raise $5,000 which is enough to cover three of the stations.

Her motto: “One school, one community, one planet” has a two-fold motivation. One is filtered, good tasting water to keep students hydrated and the second is less plastic bogging down our environment.

According to Hall, although her peers get thirsty, they don’t want to drink water out of the fountains because it doesn’t taste good and a past experience where the water was not suitable for drinking left a sour taste in the students mouths, so to speak, when considering using the water fountains.

“Having fresh water will help students get better grades,” she said, adding that hydration helps improve health and cognitive function.

More than just a focus on taste, Makena is seeing a bigger picture: sustainability.

She provided statistics during the October 10 Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors meeting. She said according to her research, only one in every five bottles gets recycled leading to 150 million tons of plastic littering our oceans. Based on her research, she estimated that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fish.

“Together we can promote good health, a greener environment, and a cleaner planet,” she said.

Her efforts have been noted by her peers.

“I am getting a lot of good feedback,” Makena said.

Kirk Lape, principal at Lincoln High School, praised her for stepping up.

“Makena deserves a lot of credit for initiating this,” he said during the directors meeting.

Although she has already received her first donation of $500, Makena is looking for help from the community.

All donations can be made to Ellwood City Area School District, with indication of the water filling station fundraiser. Checks should be made out to the school and sent to Ellwood City Area School District, Attn: Kirk Lape, 501 Crescent Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117.

A Go Fund Me account has also been set up and accepting donations, www.gofundme.com/f/cgmzuh-water-bottle-filling-stations