In an extraordinary community effort, the Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign has reached a historic milestone, collecting a total of 1,014,160 bottles of water to support residents in need during one of the hottest summers on record. This marks the first time the campaign has crossed the 1 million bottle threshold, far surpassing its initial goal of 700,000 and setting an all-time record.
The drive’s impressive finish was bolstered by a series of last-minute, large-scale donations. Sally Harrison, a dedicated community leader and president of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, played a pivotal role, once again earning her status as the campaign’s MVP. Harrison coordinated the delivery of 36 pallets of water to United Food Bank from five organizations: Mesa Rotary, Nexus, Global Roofing, Tan Hau, and Clayco/NTT. As if that weren’t enough, she also presented a surprise check of $7,877.20, raised through the Data Center Challenge, to purchase even more water and secure the campaign’s milestone achievement.
United Food Bank has been instrumental in distributing the water, which has been critical in helping the community weather this scorching summer and unusually warm fall. As Mesa residents finally begin to experience relief with temperatures dipping below 100 degrees, the significance of the campaign’s success is clear.
The Klaus Team has been a partner and drop-off location in the Mesa Hydration Campaign for a decade, and also participated multiple times in the One-Ton Challenge this year, where businesses and local residents donate a pallet of water (which weighs a ton) to the campaign. In addition, numerous residents of 85212 and 85209 took the One-Ton Challenge at the Klaus Team office by donating on-site to United Food Bank to purchase a pallet of water!
“Once again, we enjoyed the partnership with our community and observed such a high level of generosity from our 85212 and 85209 neighbors who brought by so many cases of water and who donated so many pallets of water,” said Kenny Klaus, team leader of Klaus Team Real Estate Solutions. “It’s such an honor to be a part of a giving community like ours, where year after year we see neighbors on fixed incomes take advantage of sales at Fry’s to buy a case or two of water to help out their less fortunate neighbors. Where we see people thinking of the vulnerable members of our community week after week in these hot summers.”
Community members, local businesses, and organizations worked together in a spirit of generosity and care, ensuring that vital hydration was provided to those in need during extreme conditions. As the city celebrates this record-setting accomplishment, gratitude abounds for the collective effort that made it all possible.
