Providing water and drink to those who lack access to clean, safe drinking water
Support This Work of MercyRooted in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation
Two millennia of Catholic teaching and practice
Contemporary ways to practice this work of mercy
"I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." — Matthew 25:35
Christ teaches us that giving drink to the thirsty is serving Him directly. In Matthew 25, He identifies so closely with the poor that whatever we do for them, we do for Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the corporal works of mercy "consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and giving drink to the thirsty" (CCC 2447).
From the beginning, water has been central to salvation history. God provided water for the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 17:1-7). Christ offered living water to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10). And on the Cross, He cried out in thirst (John 19:28). To give drink to the thirsty is to imitate Christ Himself.
"Give Drink to the Thirsty" means providing water and safe drinking water to those who lack access to it. In many parts of the world, clean water is not readily available — and even in our own communities, there are those who struggle to afford basic hydration.
This work addresses one of the most fundamental human needs. Without water, life cannot survive. When we provide drink to the thirsty, we give the most basic gift of life itself. And like all works of mercy, it is never merely physical — it is an act of love that points to the living water Christ offers.
Jesus said: "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst" (John 4:13-14). We give physical water as a sign of the spiritual water Christ offers — His grace that satisfies every longing.
Divine Mercies Inc. lives out this corporal work of mercy through our water ministry. We provide clean drinking water and hydration assistance to those in need in our community and beyond.
Our water ministry includes providing water bottles and hydration supplies to the homeless and those experiencing housing instability, especially during hot summer months. We partner with local organizations to ensure water reaches those who need it most.
We also support clean water initiatives that bring safe drinking water to communities in need. When you support Divine Mercies Inc., you're helping ensure that no one goes thirsty — providing not just water, but the gift of life itself.
Clean water is a basic human need that many of us take for granted. For those experiencing homelessness or financial hardship, even something as simple as a bottle of water can be out of reach.
Your generosity helps Divine Mercies Inc. continue our water ministry. Every donation to the Water Ministry fund helps us provide hydration to those who need it most. Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes thirsty.
In giving drink to the thirsty, we give Christ Himself something to drink. Help us be His hands and feet.
Support This Work of Mercy