The hip-hop world is continuing to step up to the plate to help out the people of Flint, Michigan. With the start of a new school year approaching, Eminem has once again lent a helping hand to his home-state, this time focusing on the children who won’t have access to much needed school supplies come the first day back.
In an Instagram post, the Rap God wrote that he was continuing to keep Flint in mind and that “90% of the kids in their public school system live in poverty”. He urged his followers to get involved by donating what they can to the cause, which aims to provide 5,500 students with a backpack full of school supplies.
The initiative is only Marshall Mathers’ most recent venture in lending a helping hand, having also backed the donation of 1 million bottles of water to the city from the bottled water company AQUAhdrate – which Sean “Diddy” Combs and Mark Wahlberg are both investors of. At the time, Diddy said in a statement that “The AQUAhydrate team is doing everything it can to help with this issue… Mark and I made an initial pledge to donate and are committed to the continued aid to Flint residents as long as they need it. We hope this commitment will inspire others to get involved as well.”
Eminem and Diddy (or is it Puff Daddy again?) are just two of a number of industry names who have been doing their part for the city of Flint as the community continues to struggle through poverty and the on-going effects of the water crisis. Though media coverage has become somewhat dormant, the impact of the lead poisoning epidemic in the city continues to be felt two years down the track, with recent findings suggesting that the water is causing skin irritations and rashes.
Beyonce, Big Sean, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Pusha T, Meek Mill and 50 Cent are among others who have donated to and raised awareness for Flint. Earlier this year, two Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials were arraigned on criminal charges over misconduct regarding the Flint water crisis.
Image: HipHopDX