Aretha Franklin joins a growing list of celebrities who are doing their part to help the residents of Flint, Michigan amid the city’s devastating water crisis. The Queen of Soul plans on donating rooms at a Holiday Inn in Southfield, a Detroit suburb, for 25-50 people, reports Detroit’s Ksat 12.
In addition to the providing shelter at the Holiday Inn in Southfield, food and beverages will be provided by the local Coney Island restaurant. Franklin’s father’s church, New Bethel Baptist, also located in the Motor City, has stepped in to pre-screen Flint residents interested in benefiting from the initiative.
“Detroiters usually come to the aid of Detroiters—and Flint is certainly regarded as Detroit,” Franklin said in an interview. “Hang in there,” she advised Flint residents.
Last week, Detroit native Big Sean, with the help of CrowdRise, launched #HEALFLINTKIDS with the hope of raising funds for the Community Foundation of Greater Flint Michigan’s “Flint Child Health & Development Fund.” The 27-year-old set the bar high by donating a solid $10K to kick off the initiative.
Meanwhile, rapper Meek Mill donated over 60K water bottles to the good people of Flint. To double his effort, Mill, who’s recently been beefing with 50 Cent, called on the “Candy Shop” hip-hop artist to match him via Instagram: “I got 50k to donate to waters … Let’s see if we can have @50cent match me! I’m pretty sure “flint” supported us! Serious post contact …. Roc nation will purchase for me and ship! Not even just him all entertainers! I ain’t got the [time] posting memes and shit… ‘Way too trill for that’ @dallaslifestyle it’s my dawg hometown too! #FORMLKDAY”
However, according to recent reports, 50 Cent has yet to respond. Bravo to these brothers and sisters for stepping up to the plate in a true time of need.
