AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Elizabeth Talley may look like your average 18 year-old, high school graduate, but she's not wasting away her last summer before college. Instead, she's taking the chance to do one last good thing for her community... she's giving back.
"I've always wanted to kind of help out my community and being 18 I felt that I could finally put my foot in", says Talley.
In the midst of our record-breaking drought, Elizabeth saw the need to help provide drinking water to the homeless of Amarillo. So, she organized her own water drive.
"I have the liberty of going to my fridge and pulling a cold water bottle out and these people may resort to drinking out of a lake which is not clean at all because it is so hot. If they have easy access to it, then they would feel better and they wouldn't be so hot", says Talley.
Not only will Elizabeth and a few volunteers be collecting bottled water and cash donations all weekend, they're giving it directly to two local organizations, City Church and Faith City Mission.
"The water, the things that we take to them, it's a lifeline to them. They don't have the money or the means to go to the store and buy the water that they need so this is a tremendous blessing", says Senior Pastor of City Church, Donnie Lane.
Knowing she's helped someone, Elizabeth says, is the best feeling of all.
"It was kind of a big population in Amarillo and I kind of wanted to help the biggest population I could and make the biggest impact. I'm very proud", adds Talley.
Judging by the graciousness of those receiving the water, a big impact is exactly what she's making.
"The character of this young woman that's willing to do this... I think it's incredible", continues Lane.
The water drive will be going on all weekend, starting friday.
If you want to join the effort, you can drop off your cases of water or a cash donation at the United Supermarket at 45th and Bell or the United Market Street at 26th and Georgia.
