Drops of Love

Members of "Drops of Love", a non-profit organization with the mission of drilling water wells in impoverished countries in Africa and Central America, take a break from drilling a well in El Salvador. Lt. Col. Kelli Smiley (right), 446th Force Support Squadron commander out of McChord Field, Wash. serves on the company's board of directors under daughter Mariah's (second from left) "command." The entire Smiley family is involved in the organization. (Courtesy photo)

'Drops of Love' has McChord family going with the flow

Published May 16, 2012
By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Three years ago, when Lt. Col. Kelli Smiley's daughter was introduced to the world's water crisis, the 446th Force Support Squadron commander's daughter discovered $1 could potentially provide water to a person living in a third-world country for a year. This discovery flooded her with the inspiration to save lives - and her mother went with the flow.

When she was 14 Mariah Smiley created "Drops of Love", a non-profit organization which has the mission of drilling water wells for impoverished families in Africa and Central America. She set about raising funds and awareness about the water crisis, and started a grass roots movement to get others to follow.

"She is an amazing young woman who balances Drops of Love with her high-school classes, and she takes evening college courses to go along with other volunteer leadership roles as well," said the proud mom, an Air Force Reservist from McChord Field. "Mariah has a heart that inspires people."

Smiley, an Air Force Academy graduate, and member of the Drops of Love board of directors, says the entire Smiley clan is soaked in the mission.

"We love making a difference, so mission work and serving the community like this is a big passion of ours," she said. "Mariah is an example that any one, any age can make a difference in this world."

Drops of Love recently drilled a well in El Salvador, and since moving to Washington state, the company has already raised more than $20,000 and is currently working on funding a fourth well in El Salvador.

For more information on "Drops of Love," visit www.dropsoflove.org.