By Anna Gunderson and Angie Millar
It’s about 110 degrees in downtown Phoenix. You can see and feel the heat rising from the pavement. There’s not a cloud in the sky and no chance of rain in the foreseeable future.
It’s a summer like any other in the Valley, and cooler temperatures are months away. On average, Phoenix experiences 18 excessive heat days a year, according to the National Weather Service.
A white tent covers three Salvation Army volunteers sitting with water and sunscreen at the corner of Third Avenue and Fillmore Street. They vary in age and gender, but their sole purpose is the same — to help those on the street stay hydrated and safe from the sun.
A red SUV pulls up, the driver rolls down the window and a volunteer hands him several bottles of water and some sunscreen. As the SUV leaves, the driver shouts “God bless you!”
For the fifth year in a row the Salvation Army is supplying water and sunscreen to 13 hydration stations in the valley. The booths are open from 8 a.m. to 2.p.m. on days when excessive heat warnings are issued by the National Weather Service.
These stations are mainly targeted to the homeless and low-income residents of Phoenix. John Landrum, program coordinator for the Salvation Army’s Project Homeless Outreach to Place and Empower, said that about 70 people died five years ago from the heat. Seventy percent of those were homeless and low-income residents, which sparked the idea for the booths, he added.
Reports vary as to how many die from the heat every summer, but any death is “one death too many” for Landrum.
“If we lose one person then next year we need to do better,” he added.
Landrum added that the volunteers are giving out more water this year than in the past four years. The booths see about 200 people a day, he said, and people who come are encouraged to take more than one bottle.
The downtown Oakville Grocery, located at CityScape, is also contributing to the heat-relief efforts after launching a water drive to coincide with its opening. Water donated at the store goes to St. Mary’s Food Bank.
Susie Timm, the marketing director for the store, said Oakville wants to get involved in the community by helping the underprivileged survive the heat.
They kicked off the drive on June 27 by donating 600 bottles of water from the Oakville Grocery Company, then encouraged shoppers to donate five dollars, which bought one case of water. In return, shoppers received $10 gift cards to the store. The drive ended July 5.
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) provides support to the homeless and are currently accepting water donations to hand out to anyone who needs it. Daily, they serve 1400-1800 people in downtown Phoenix.
Irene Agustin, director of development for CASS, said the shelter provides preventative services for emergency medical situations.
“We try to prevent the body from shutting down from heat exhaustion so that people don’t have to go to the hospital,” Agustin said. “(This way) they can get well to continue on to better their lives.”
All three organizations expressed the need for more donations and help in order to sufficiently contribute to the safety and well-being of low-income individuals.
People interested in donating to CASS may drop off water and other supplies at their Phoenix office, 230 S. 12th Ave.
Anyone interested on donating water or supplies to the Salvation Army or has an interest in volunteering at a booth can call 602-267-4170.
“We always need volunteers,” Landrum said. “We always need more donations, especially water. During the summer we’re out there trying to prevent death. We are here to help everybody and anybody.”
Contact the reporters at anna.gunderson@asu.edu and dmillar@asu.edu
