Minister “humbled” to receive Donald Schaefer award

The 2016 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award for Wicomico County has gone to a local resident who led efforts of assisting the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Minister G. Mandel Copeland was presented the award late Tuesday morning.

Comptroller Peter Franchot was among the handful of local lawmakers who gathered at the Greater Salisbury Committee to honor Minister Copeland.

Copeland, chief musician and music director for the United Faith Church of Deliverance in Salisbury, is also the a founder of a non-profit outreach ministry. The non-profit involves several churches with volunteers and partners through throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Indiana, Connecticut and Chicago.

He was one of the people responsible for the recent “Water 4 Flint” initiative, which reportedly delivered thousands of cases of water to Flint, Michigan.

Earlier this year, the city went through a crisis where levels of lead, chlorine, iron in the water deemed it unsafe to drink. According to reports, the water was even harmful if it came in contact with skin in some cases.

At a press conference, Copeland told the crowd that extending a helping hand to Flint was a community effort.

“I mean the whole eastern shore came together to make sure this call happened,” he says. “I appreciate what you have done, but I’m standing on shoulders of so many people today and I’m so humbled by this moment.”

For more information on the award, click here.