By Desiree Hensley

UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (May 26, 2026) – Walk 4 Water Union County raised more than $33,000 during its Fourth Annual Fundraiser on Saturday, May 16. All funds raised will go toward the drilling of safe water boreholes for the remote villages of Naminyagwe Muyenga and Agururu B #3 Cell in Uganda, with the third village to be determined soon by Hope 4 Kids International.

Walk 4 Water Union County surpassed its original fundraising goal in a major way. Organizers initially aimed to raise $22,500—enough to drill two boreholes—but the community’s response far exceeded expectations.

According to event leaders, the 2026 walk generated enough support to fund the drilling and installation of three wells, expanding the project’s impact for communities in need.

The achievement highlights the growing momentum behind Walk 4 Water Union County’s efforts in the region and the strong local commitment to clean water access initiatives to help those in extreme need.

These wells are drilled, installed and maintained by Water 4 Kids International, a division of Hope 4 Kids International, a non-profit working to provide clean water to children and families who are suffering through extreme poverty and disease. Each well has the potential to impact thousands of villagers for up to 50 years.

Union County residents from a wide range of ages, churches, and community groups joined together to celebrate the blessings of their community while raising support for people in Uganda facing extreme poverty and limited access to clean water.

Union County Commissioner Sidney Jessee opened the event in prayer. Union County Mayor Jason Bailey welcomed attendees, and Union County Commissioner and Union County Opry board member Danny Cooke provided sound for the event. Father Samuel Mungai of Saint Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church spoke about the terrible realities of living with water scarcity in Africa, and the scouts helped with educating attendees with posters showing facts and statistics pertaining to water scarcity in Uganda. Entertainment was provided by the Union County Line Dancers, the E Kapuna Wahine E Kamealoha Polynesian Dancers, and the TN 90 Bluegrass Band. Children in attendance were able to get their faces painted and received balloon twists.

More than 100 walkers made the 1.3 mile journey from the farmers market and Wilson Park and around Union County High School, symbolizing the distance Ugandan women and children travel to retrieve water, largely from unprotected sources including open ponds, livestock water points, and polluted ditches. In total, roughly 600 members of the greater Union County community attended the event and enjoyed the great vendors of the Union County Farmers Market, as well as excellent food and desserts from Menzas Italian Beef and Bakery.

Twenty-seven local companies, three local non-profits, and three community churches participated as well as the Scouts, the TN 90 Bluegrass band, the line and hula dancers, event volunteers, donors, and walkers came out to support and made the event a great success.

For more information about the Water 4 Kids International program, or to donate to Walk 4 Water Union County visit w4ki.org/w4wunioncounty.