The twelfth Mesa Hydration Campaign is running from now to September 27 and bottled water donations are needed.
The annual Mesa Hydration Campaign seeks to collect bottled water in an effort to prevent heat-related fatalities amongst the less fortunate members of the Arizona community.
“Water is essential to life,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “For most of us, we take it for granted. But it’s important to remember that there are people in our community that aren’t that fortunate. This is life and death for people.”
Mesa officials are working with local businesses, organizations, and non-profits to collect enough bottles of drinking water to stock at various locations throughout Mesa so that transients can cool off in the intense summer heat.
The city has begun the process of installing water filling stations so those in need of hydration can recycle water bottles and other containers. The first permanent filling station is at the Main Library at 64 E 1st Street.
The goal for 2019 is 400,000 water bottles, and the campaign got off to a great start with the donation of 115,500 bottles from Valley Metro. In the testing of the new light rail extension, they needed to simulate the weight of riders so they used 55 pallets of water, which was then given to the Mesa Hydration Campaign.
Water is vital to survival in Arizona, especially for those who don’t have access to air conditioning. Without A/C, the only means for the body’s cooling mechanism is sweat, and without adequate water, people can overheat.
Bottled water dropped off at The Kenny Klaus Team offices will be donated to the Mesa Hydration Campaign throughout the summer months until mid-September.
Once donated at one of the 18 drop off locations, the bottles are distributed to those in need through numerous agencies in the valley, including United Food Bank, A New Leaf, Paz de Cristo, and Saint Vincent de Paul as well as many others helping seniors, homeless, veterans, and others in need.
The Klaus Team offices are located at 2919 S Ellsworth Rd #133, on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Guadalupe behind the Sonic.
