"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."
About Us
OUR MISSION
Since 2013, we have assisted in many water crisis efforts and continue to broaden our reach.
Our mission is to go into all the earth and provide clean, safe drinking water to the world through innovation, technology, and education. With our team, your support, and the use of revolutionary water filters, we can make that happen.
OUR VISION
Our vision is a world in which everyone has equal access to reliable and safe water.
Our Vision in Action
Thirsty Lands, Inc. works with water filter companies to design and develop water filters that meet the needs of affected areas. Our organization provides research and data to supply only the best water filters to the world, while our partners in retail use their expertise in product development and testing to create effective, affordable and high-quality filters to meet that need.
Our Team
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Gwen Miller
Executive Director
Gwen, a Trauma PA with a master's in physician assistant studies, felt a strong call towards missions while managing her career and raising five children. Participating in short-term mission trips intensified this desire, leading to her first extended mission in northwestern Kenya. There, she joined Samaritan's Purse's disaster response team and has since traveled to numerous countries like Haiti, Honduras, Italy, and Ukraine, addressing medical needs and other interlinked challenges, notably the critical need for clean water. Her experiences with contaminated water led her to collaborate with organizations dedicated to providing safe water, viewing her work with Samaritan’s Purse and Thirsty Lands as significant blessings.
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Joe O'Brien
Faith-Based Outreach Director
Joe O’Brien, a former member of the US Air Force, has over 35 years in real estate and runs Joseph J. O’Brien Realtor, Inc. in Pike County, PA. He is a family man, enjoys golf and fishing, and became a devout Christian in 1981. Joe is currently an Elder at Faith Baptist Fellowship Church in Lake Ariel, PA., and is active in Christian ministry including teaching, preaching, and helping in various community services. He co-founded Pine Tree Water Filter Company and chairs Clean Water Matters, Inc., merging his water filtration expertise and faith to assist faith-based groups and provide clean water to the needy.
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Pierce Bunce
VA Outreach Director
The VA Outreach Director, Pierce, has been married to Diane for 42 years and is the father of four children and six grandchildren. A highly decorated combat veteran, he has been involved with both for-profit and non-profit businesses for the last 45 years. His roles have included Recreation Director for the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, CEO of the North American Athletic Association, Development Officer for Christian Homes for Children, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rent-A-John, owner of Lords Valley Home and Grounds Maintenance, and Pike County Director of Veterans Affairs.
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Gordon Draper
Treasurer/CPA
Gordon is a self-employed CPA working with many clients, including several non-profit organizations, spread throughout both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Scranton with a major in Accounting. His passion is to help people, and there is no better setting than the distribution of clean water to all, to use his financial skills to help as many as possible.
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Aimee Troy
Chief Administrative Officer
Aimee is Chief Administrative Officer at a consulting firm that specializes in small business and non-profit consulting. She graduated from Villanova University with a B.S. in Accountancy. She also received her Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. With over two decades of experience, she held positions of employment at a small CPA firm, a financial software company and boutique trust and estates law firms. Prior to her current role, she was a Market Trust Director for a large national bank serving clients with their personal trusts and private foundations. Aimee is married with two children. She has a strong interest in helping the community and is currently a board member of her local youth lacrosse club. She enjoys yoga, reading and watching her children play sports.
