Water drive in Detroit Monday for Flint

DETROIT (WJBK) - They gave by the cases for a cause that's attracting compassion from near and far. The drive outside University Foods on West Warren in Detroit is one of the latest efforts to help those dealing with water worries in Flint.

The grocery store along with D&D Innovations and Be Your Own Boss all came together to collect what so many of us take for granted: clean drinking water. Their goal was to fill the 26-foot rental truck and take it to the neighbors in the north.

The people of Flint have been complaining about their tap water since 2014. That is when the city switched from the Detroit Water System to the Flint River to cut costs, but instead the move meant lead contamination.

National activists like filmmaker Michael Moore and Rev. Jesse Jackson spent the weekend in Flint to bring publicity to their plight.

And while President Obama declared the city a state of emergency, allowing federal funds to be funneled to the area, many feel more needs to be done - and now. Drives like the one in Detroit are a start.

The drive outside University Foods is happening until 6 p.m. Monday. Then, the truck will head to Flint Tuesday morning.