Sources | XXXTentacion Foundation intervenes in water and healthcare crisis in Jackson, Mississippi

XXXtencation has been trending lately as his trial begins in January. Much has been said about the rapper, but what many people don’t know is that X had goals and dreams he didn’t realize. One of them is the foundation he created to help those in need. His mother continued his dream through various initiatives.

In August 2022, national media began covering the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. Heavy rains continued in the city, causing widespread flooding. Years of neglect, combined with racism and pump failures, became a recipe for disaster.

More than 170,000 residents, including infants and children, were without water. Locals cannot drink water, shower, or even flush toilets. Seniors and low-income residents with medical needs are forced to choose between buying vital medicines or buying water. A boiling water advisory has been issued to help resolve this issue. Nonetheless, according to Lucia Lumumba, For the president of the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition and sister of Jackson’s mayor, the situation is far from resolved.

“The water crisis has over 150,000 residents under boiling advisory. This is going to be on for at least a year or more. So we still need more water and water filters,” Lumumba said.

The water crisis created a medical emergency among those affected in Jackson.

“Lack of access to clean drinking water is detrimental to anyone’s health, especially infants, children and the elderly with pre-existing medical conditions,” says Dr. Tom Ellison, MD.

Ellison is the founder and director of Project Help, a national medical-based nonprofit disaster relief organization with more than 4,500 physicians who volunteer during natural disasters. Project Help has been assisting Jackson residents since August, when they got a call from the XXXTentacion Foundation in late October. Since then, the foundation has provided enough water for residents to use until March 2023.

Cleopatra Bernard is an executive producer of music, film and television. Bernard is also a philanthropist and the mother of the late rapper XXXTentacion. The executive and her team decided to step in and help the residents of Jackson through the XXXTentacion Foundation.