When Rick Dobrowolski reflects on the challenges of pastoring Citylight Bible Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania, unsafe drinking water wasn’t something he expected to worry about. Yet this fundamental need had become a growing concern.
The solution came from a local business willing to give freely.
A Building With History, A Problem With Water
Citylight Bible Church has called Eastside Allentown home for 15 years. Two years ago, they moved into their current building on Union Boulevard — a space with a past life as several different businesses and a future that would require significant renovations to become a true gathering place for the community.
The building came with hard water typical of the area, creating a problem that went beyond mere inconvenience. For the congregation, the poor drinking water quality became a logistical challenge with real human risk.
“We actually had one of our retired individuals volunteer to pick up five-gallon jugs, get them filled up, bring them into a water cooler,” Dobrowolski said. “And I kept thinking, what happens if he stumbles with this big five-gallon jug, bringing into the building one of these days?”
A Dealer Partnership Rooted in Community
Jim Carroll and Scott Warrick of Long’s EcoWater had spent years serving customers in Allentown. For Carroll, the area held personal significance — his wife Denise grew up just blocks from the church and he attended college nearby. For Warrick, nearly 65 years in the Valley had instilled a deep commitment to the community.
When EcoWater launched its 100 for 100 Initiative — commemorating a century in business with 100 stories of positive impact through better water — Carroll and Warrick knew immediately they wanted to participate.
“We care about our community and we care about our customers,” Carroll said. “As soon as we saw that EcoWater was putting out this program 100 for 100, we knew right away we wanted to be a part of it.”
The Call That Changed Everything
Dobrowolski had been discussing the water situation with his leadership team, trying to figure out how to make the finances work to get a water treatment system. Maybe they could fundraise. Maybe after getting a quote, they could piece together the money over time.
Then came the phone call.
“I remember when he gave me a call and said, hey, I got the quote back. And I said, good. I want to go with them. They seem like a good company. Let us know what it is so we can move it forward,” Dobrowolski recalled. “And he said, yeah, about that. They want to give it to us for free.”
Installing More Than Water Systems
Long’s EcoWater installed two drinking water systems servicing different areas of the church. But what they really provided was freedom for the church to focus on its core mission, instead of water logistics and worrying whether an elderly volunteer might get injured from carrying heavy jugs.
“We really wanted to solve their problems and also the problems of the congregation,” Warrick said.
For Carroll, walking into that old neighborhood to provide clean water felt deeply meaningful. “Being able to provide quality water in this atmosphere really, you know, it’s a special thing to be able to do that.”
A Legacy of Impact
The practical benefits are immediate. No more reliance on volunteers hauling water. No more purchasing and storing cases of bottled water. Just clean water at the tap, ready to fill pitchers for gatherings and events.
“Now we’ll just have it right here at the tap that we can fill pitchers,” Dobrowolski said. “So this could be a big benefit for us where we don’t have to concentrate on the water side of our building. It’s taken care of for years to come and we don’t have to mess with it anymore.”
But the impact runs deeper than convenience. Through the installation process, Dobrowolski met approximately a third of Long’s EcoWater employees — people who were friendly, engaged and genuinely interested in supporting the church’s work in the community.
“I would describe this experience as leaving me encouraged,” Dobrowolski said. “I’m encouraged by what has taken place in our church as a result of Long’s EcoWater filling our needs.”
For Zach Drummond of EcoWater, stories like Citylight Bible Church represent what the 100 for 100 initiative is all about: “Being in business for 100 years is not something many corporations or entities can say. And we hope to continue that legacy forward through initiatives like this and through the wonderful impact that our partner dealers like Long’s EcoWater have in the communities they serve for many, many years to come.”