Nonprofits seek water donations for Valley’s homeless

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With another scorching hot summer nearly here, the danger of dehydration is very present and real, and this health risk is even greater for the Valley’s homeless, who often do not have access to life-sustaining water.

Nonprofit groups across the Valley are committed to providing these at-risk individuals and families with the water they desperately need to survive another triple-digit summer.

The Department of Economic Security reported in 2009 that nearly 7,000 children and youth in Arizona experienced homelessness and received services from state nonprofit organizations.

MARICOPA COUNTY

There are more than 8,000 homeless individuals in Maricopa County alone. The Human Service Campus, a group of 15 homeless service providers, has created the “Thirst Aid” program in an effort to reduce incidences of heat-related death among the county’s homeless population. They hope that the community will support them in their goal of collecting and distributing 500,000 bottles of water between May 1 and September 30.

Tax-deductible donations can be made online at ThirstAidAZ.org, or by mailing checks payable to the Humane Services Campus to 204 S. 12th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Cases of bottled water can be donated directly to one of the following three locations:

Human Service Campus Office at the Success Center

• 204 South 12th Ave., Pheonix 85007
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday -Friday

Central Arizona Shelter Services

• 203 South 12th Avenue, Phoenix 85007
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday -Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

Lodestar Day Resource Center

• 1125 West Jackson Street, Phoenix 85007
• 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday -Sunday

Pickup services are also available in some areas. For more information or to schedule a pickup, contact Holly at 602-229-1242.

MESA

For the fifth year in a row, the City of Mesa will partner with local nonprofit groups to provide bottled water to the city’s homeless in the sweltering summer months through the Hydration Donation Program. Residents donated and distributed over 100,000 bottles last year.

The program’s five drop-off locations will receive donations of bottled water beginning June 1 through September 16. These locations include:

Mesa Fire Department Volunteer Center

• 2830 E. Adobe (located behind Fire Station 206 at Lindsay and Adobe)
• 24 hour drop-off in parking lot

Red Mountain Multigenerational Center

• 7550 E. Adobe
• 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday

United Food Bank

• 245 S. Nina Drive (north of Broadway between Extension and Alma School)
• 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (collection bins available on weekends)

Paz de Cristo

• 424 W. Broadway
• 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday – Sunday

A New Leaf – MesaCAN

• 635 E. Broadway
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday in the lobby

Give the life-giving gift of water to homeless children, adults and families in the Valley! — Sadie Smeck

Chili’s gives back to Arizona museums

It’s too hot to cook! If you’re thinking about going out, consider Chili’s. When you dine at Chili’s today or next Thursday, 10 percent of your bill at specific east Valley  locations will be donated to the “Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience” exhibit, Arizona Museum for Youth and Mesa Historical Museum.

“The collaboration with Chili’s started when Chili’s donated food for the ‘Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience’ in February and then offered to do something for the museum and the City of Mesa,” says Sunny Spencer, executive director of the Arizona Museum for Youth.

“Play Ball” was set up in 2009 by Lisa Anderson, director of the Mesa Historical Museum. It includes baseball-themed artwork, rare memorabilia and photos. (Also at the Mesa Historical Museum: “The Wallace and Ladmo Show” and “Searching for Mesa” exhibits.)

The Arizona Museum for Youth also features elements of the “Play Ball” exhibit, along with “The Art Galleries” — with visually stimulating exhibitions on various themes —  and “Sounds Like Art,” where visitors can create art about instruments or  produce songs as inspiration for their artwork.

“We are very pleased to have the collaboration with Chili’s,” Spencer says. “The benefits will come back to the two museums. We really appreciate the support and hope to see everyone at the ['Play Ball'] exhibit.”

Participating Chili’s locations are at 1025 N. Dobson Rd., 1637 S. Stapley, 6648 E. McKellips, 1435 S. Power, 1951 S. Signal Butte and 3917 S. Gilbert Rd. For more information, visit chilis.com.