Water stations installed for residents of Rapid Shelter Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — New water stations are now available at Rapid Shelter Columbia — providing its temporary residents with an easier way to stay hydrated.

With hotter temperatures here again, temporary resident Deborah Bell says the new cold water stations are much appreciated.

“Yes! It helped me during the time it’s getting real hot, so yea, it’s gonna benefit a lot of the other rapid shelter people who come behind me, it’s really gonna do great wonders for us,” she says.

The fountains and reusable bottles are a joint effort between the Ritedose Corporation and the American Heart Association.

“It feels phenomenal, it’s what we’re about. Right? I said in my introduction speech a while ago, that blessed people bless people and blessed organizations bless the community, that’s what we’re here for right? As you look around in society there are so many people either forgotten or undervalued that we need to lift up,” says its CEO of Ritedose Jody Chastain.

Leaders say the shelter was purchasing up to 40 cases of bottled water each week, but with lack of fridge space, residents often drank room temperature water.

Both the men and women’s side of Rapid Shelter will now have a cold water station, and one indoors that can provide hot water to make beverages and soup in colder months.

The new effort will help provide both sustainability for staff and convenience for everyone staying there.

“We’re celebrating providing what to us is such a basic need, and something that we take for granted everyday. Which is access to fresh, cool, clean water,” says Executive Director for the Midlands American Heart Association, Lizzie Tankersley.

“I’ve been here now ten months. They are looking for me a place, I’m that close of getting my place, so yes they help me with everything. My license my social security, I mean everything, it’s wonderful. It gave me another chance at life. I was down and they brought me all the way up,” says Bell.

Around 4o men and 10 women stay in the Pallets at Rapid Shelter year round.