Turn on the Tap
YOU CAN HELP TURN ON THE TAP
Through the Turn on the Tap campaign, Samaritan’s Purse Canada has been helping thousands of families in developing nations get safe water and transform their lives.
Now there’s a new opportunity to help and have fun at the same time–take the Safe Water Challenge and organize a fundraising event with your friends and family to help more impoverished families get safe water. 
Several Safe Water Challenges have already taken place, raising more than $10,000 for the Turn on the Tap campaign. That translates into safe water–and transformed lives–for up to 1,000 people. You can create almost any kind of event, from a softball tournament to a book sale or a walkathon, and make it a fun fundraiser.
Use the downloadable materials on this page to create and publicize your challenge. Everything from an organizing guide (which has lots more fundraising activity suggestions) to a donation form and posters are ready for you to use.
Make your challenge as big or small as you like–from city or town-wide to something cosy involving just your sports team, church or community group. And pick whatever month or day is most convenient (you might want to consider World Water Day because it could help raise your event’s community profile). Just start by registering your challenge with us, then the sky’s the limit.
$1,000 raised for Turn on the Tap
Tom Heatherington, Pastor Gordon MacDonald, Rev. David Leggatt, Ladorna Hubert, Lori and Lisa Monahan, Mary Jane Monahan, Paula Heatherington and Christine Shelkey participated in the third annual Turn On The Tap water walkathon for Samaritan’s Purse June 26 in Wiarton, ON. The group walked three kilometres from the Wiarton Water Filtration Plant through Bluewater Park and back.
They raised $1,000 which will provide 10 Biosand Water Filters for 10 needy families in Africa or Southeast Asia, where drinking water is contaminated. The health of these families will be dramatically improved; the children’s school attendance will improve because they will not be sick and they will be better able to escape a vicious cycle of poverty.
St John's United Church provided overwhelming support with this year’s walk. Also a huge thank you goes to Frank Street Baptist Church. A small bit that this group did in Wiarton goes a long way when 80 people 10 families are given a lifetime boost in their living conditions.
Toronto walkathon raises $3,000
The June 26 walk, sponsored by Runnymede Church in Toronto, went very well and the weather was perfect. Most of the group walked, but a few ran and a couple cycled. At least 40 people participated and about $3,000 was raised for Turn on the Tap. Participants had several opportunities en route to talk to people about what they were doing and a couple of them made donations.
Kitchener-Waterloo walk raises $21,000!
On April 9, 115 youth from seven churches in the Kitchener Waterloo area in Ontario walked eight kilometers and carried a five-liter jug of water for four of those kilometers as a way for students to experience what if feels like to work hard for a basic necessity.
Each student was asked to raise $100 to provide 10 people with safe water. The organizers hoped to raise $15,000 and ended up collecting $21,000! The churches involved were Country Hills, Bethel Evangelical Missionary in New Dundee, Plattsville Evangelical Missionary, Wilmot Centre Evangelical Missionary, International Gospel Centre, Highview Community, and Cedar Creek Community in Cambridge.
Quest to Quench in Orleans, ON
A high school student from St. Peter High School in Orleans, ON, organized a benefit concert for Turn on the Tap on Sept. 23, 2011. Gaby Harris, 16 years old, was inspired after attending a benefit fashion show. "I really wanted to do something that would help people around the world," she said.
That evening, seven talented student acts performed for an audience of about 100 people. They raised more than $1,300, which will provide safe water for up to 1,040 people. "I think it was an amazing night and I really hope to plan another one for next year," said Gaby.
Locations
Not listed? Start a challenge in your city here.
Participant Information
PARTICIPANT FAQ LIST
If you’re taking part in a challenge, this should answer your queries. If you’re organizing a challenge, this is useful to have for your participants.
DONATION FORM
This handy form has space for all donor information, plus guidelines for how participants should collect money and turn it on challenge day. Print as many as you need.
Organizing Information
CHALLENGE ORGANIZING GUIDE
Your 5-step guide to creating a fun and successful Safe Water Challenge.
ORGANIZER FAQ LIST
If you’re taking part in a challenge, this should answer your queries. If you’re organizing a challenge, this is useful to have for your participants.
POSTER
This poster can help you promote your challenge. Print as many copies as you need.
BULLETIN
Promote your challenge in churches or with community groups through this bulletin-sized insert. Print as many copies as you need and fill in the white space with information on your event.
MEDIA RELEASE
Tell your local newspaper, TV, online community events guide, or radio station about your challenge and get more participation with this media release example. Print as many copies as you need. Also useful for online community events guides.
DONATION FORM
This form has space for all donor information, plus guidelines for how participants should collect money and turn it on event day. Print as many as you need.