Across the nation, June 20 marks the beginning of the summer season; but here in the Valley, we know it begins much earlier. Days exceeding 100°+ have already settled in, and excessive heat warnings have been put into effect; there is no denying summer is off to a blazing start.

Last July, Maricopa County saw 30 consecutive days with highs over 110° and nightly lows rarely dropping below 95°. These unrelenting heat waves leave no room for reprieve from the scorching heat without the assistance of services and supplies–which can often be limited in quantity or accessibility.

According to records, in 2023, at least 645 people died from heat-related causes–an increase of 52% from the prior year. Of those heat-related deaths, individuals experiencing homelessness made up 45%. Programs across the Valley work tirelessly to combine efforts to combat the issue through initiatives such as cooling centers, heat relief kits, heat planning resources, utility assistance and 2-1-1 Arizona, but resources become depleted the need continues to grow without the assistance of the surrounding community.

Pulling together as a community to support the collective heat relief initiatives across the Valley is not only urgent, but vital in the prevention of needless loss of life in Arizona. Valley of the Sun United Way works hand-in-hand with partnering nonprofits to assess and address this immediate, potentially fatal, need and provide critical resources where they are most needed–in real time.

Ready to get involved?

Make a donation to Valley of the Sun United Way’s Summer Heat Relief Campaign to help make an instant impact for nonprofits across the Valley! Visit vsuw.org/heatrelief today to help save lives this summer.