Cher donates thousands of bottles of water to troubled Flint, Michigan

NEW YORK – Cher is donating water to the residents of Flint, Michigan, as the city struggles with a drinking water crisis linked to lead contamination.

More than 180,000 bottles will be shipped to the city starting Monday, according to a statement Cher released to The Associated Press on Saturday.

READ MORE:  Lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan spurs National Guard to help deliver water

“This is a tragedy of staggering proportion and shocking that it’s happening in the middle of our country,” the Oscar winner said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is a tragedy of staggering proportion and shocking that it's happening in the middle of our country," the Oscar winner said.

The city’s 100,000 residents haven’t had safe water to drink since 2014, when officials began drawing water from the Flint River as a cost-saving measure. However, the city did not treat corrosive water properly, which led to metal leaching from old pipes.

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WATCH BELOW: Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore was born in Flint, Michigan and returned to his hometown to “insist” that President Obama visit the city when he is in Michigan next week.

1:12 Michael Moore ‘insists’ Obama to visit Flint

The crisis prompted President Barack Obama to sign an emergency declaration clearing the way for federal aid.

READ MORE: In Flint, Michigan, daily life revolves around lead fears

Cher said she reached out to friend Brad Horwitz, who is an investor in the water company Icelandic Glacial. He contacted company leaders who agreed to double Cher’s donation. The 181,440 bottles are expected to reach the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan starting Wednesday.