FLINT, MI — Detroit Tigers utilityman Niko Goodrum took his parent’s lesson to heart Monday when he handed out water to Flint residents at Bethel United Methodist Church.
"I thought that if I make the team, I wanted to do something to help them," Goodrum said on June 11.
Goodrum donated about 15 pallets of water and helped load them into vehicles that were wrapped around the streets surrounding the church at 1309 N. Ballenger Highway.
"This is how I grew up," he said.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said in April it was ending the free water program after testing showed Flint’s water quality was below federal action levels for lead for nearly two years.
State officials maintain, and testing has shown, Flint’s tap water meets all requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Lead and Copper Rule.
"I think it’s a great thing for people to come out and help," he said about Goodrum.
Goodrum using his day off to purchase water and give back to the people of Flint meant a lot to Jarrett.
"It’s a blessing to see the people come out and support us that way," Jarrett said.
"It’s good to see people give back when they get up there."