Riverland's Outstanding Teen

ANNE ELIZABETH BUYS

OUTSTANDING TEEN HELPS VICKSBURG FLOOD VICTIMS

Riverland’s Outstanding Teen Anne Elizabeth Buys answers questions about the world’s clean water supply to elementary students at Porters Chapel Academy in Vicksburg.

Riverland’s Outstanding Teen Anne Elizabeth Buys shares a video message from Operation Blessing – Living Water to elementary students at Porters Chapel Academy in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg teen Anne Elizabeth Buys recently spoke to elementary school students at Vicksburg’s Porters Chapel Academy about her community service project, “Operation Blessing-Living Water.”

The daughter of Mark and Judy Buys of Vicksburg is no stranger to mission work.  “One year ago, my family and I sponsored a well in a remote village in central India.  The opportunity to provide clean drinking water to people in need was very rewarding for me personally.  That experience kept me from ever taking for granted the simple things in life like a clean cup of water.”

 Buys is partnering with Operation Blessing, which provides clean water to suffering communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They provide the equipment to drill the wells, build rain cisterns, test the water for purity, and teach the villagers proper hygiene and sanitation.

That partnership took on a new twist with the recent flooding of The Mississippi River in Vicksburg.  The concerned teen recently made a statewide plea for other teens to donate clean water and other life supplies to those who have been impacted by the horrible flooding in her hometown.

“By showing compassion and serving others, we all can make a difference by providing the precious gift of water for villages or communities and literally transform lives for thousands of people,” says the Porters Chapel Academy freshman.

More information on Miss Riverland’s Outstanding Teen Program, an official Miss America’s Outstanding Teen preliminary, is available at leafrivervalley.com.

                           

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                     OUTSTANDING TEEN TRANSFORMING LIVES

  (l-r):  Vicksburg YMCA executive Director Herb Wilkinson, Miss Riverland’s Outstanding Teen Anne Elizabeth Buys, and Vicksburg YMCA Board President Pete Stone.

Vicksburg native Anne Elizabeth Buys recently spoke to officials at The Vicksburg Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) about a project that is near and dear to her heart, “Operation Blessing-Living Water.”

The daughter of Mark and Judy Buys of Vicksburg is no stranger to mission work.  “One year ago, my family and I sponsored a well in a remote village in central India.  The opportunity to provide clean drinking water to people in need was very rewarding for me personally.  That experience kept me from ever taking for granted the simple things in life like a clean cup of water.”

According to the World Health Organization, 18% of the world's population doesn't have access to clean drinking water, and 4,500 children die each day from problems caused by lack of water and sanitation.  Buys is partnering with Operation Blessing, which provides clean water to suffering communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They provide the equipment to drill the wells, build rain cisterns, test the water for purity, and teach the villagers proper hygiene and sanitation.

Anne Elizabeth’s goal is to be able to sponsor a well during her year of service as Miss Riverland’s Outstanding Teen.  Through her work as a titleholder for this local affiliate of Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen Program and through financial support from friends, family, and other organizations, she hopes to make her dream come true.

 The sponsorship for one well is $1,800 and the sponsorship for a cistern is $450. Any amount donated is appreciated and will be combined with what others have donated to build a well in the area where there is the greatest need.   

“By showing compassion and serving others, we all can make a difference by providing the precious gift of water for villages or communities and literally transform lives for thousands of people,” says the Porters Chapel Academy freshman.

To help fill the well, make checks payable to Operation Blessing with Living Water as the memo.  Contributions may be mailed to Anne Elizabeth Buys at 114 Woodstock Drive, Vicksburg, MS 39180. 
More information on Miss Riverland’s Outstanding Teen Program, an official Miss America’s Outstanding Teen preliminary, is available at leafrivervalley.com.