For most of us accessing clean water is as simple as turning on the faucet, but this isn't so in every community around the world. It wasn't until last month that the school children in Phu Kradueng in the Loei Province of Thailand got access to a reliable source of clean water, which came at the hand of a group of Petersburg residents.

Despite the nearly 6,500 miles separating Phu Kardueng and Petersburg, the two places are more connected than one might think.

Wear Eide-a native of the Thai village, who now resides in Petersburg-and Lizzie Thompson-extended family of Eide's-spearheaded the...