As the Valley experiences another summer of extreme heat, Valley of the Sun United Way and Verizon are working together to help communities prepare before emergencies become crises. Through United We Prepare, a nationwide disaster preparedness initiative supported by Verizon and United Way Worldwide, Valley of the Sun United Way is strengthening community resilience across Maricopa County through education, outreach and life-saving resources.
The initiative focuses on helping residents, nonprofits and neighborhoods prepare for extreme heat and other disasters before they occur, ensuring communities are better equipped to respond and recover.
This summer, that work comes to life through the United for Heat Relief Challenge, a community-wide effort to assemble 8,000 heat relief kits by the end of the season. Filled with essential items such as electrolytes, sunscreen, cooling towels and hygiene supplies, the kits will be distributed through the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network to reach neighbors most vulnerable.
For many of our partner outreach organizations, these kits are crucial.
“Heat relief kits are often one of the first ways we build trust with our neighbors,” said Gabe Priddy, Director of Street Outreach at Phoenix Rescue Mission. “They provide immediate heat relief while creating an opportunity to better understand someone’s needs and connect them with the resources and support that can help move them off the streets.”
That impact is deeply personal for Rasha, a Street Outreach Case Manager at Phoenix Rescue Mission and graduate of the organization’s residential recovery program.
“During the summer while I was living on the streets, my days were planned around when and how long I could remain in a shady spot,” Rasha shared. “Even a small wound could become a serious infection if it wasn’t cared for properly. Having access to hygiene supplies gave me a way to take care of myself and helped prevent problems from becoming even more serious.”
“We are so grateful for the partnership and support from Valley of the Sun United Way and their volunteers,” said Kyla Wang, Organizational Partnerships Specialist at Phoenix Rescue Mission. “The thousands of heat relief kits will make a tremendous impact this summer.”
Thanks to Verizon’s investment and the dedication of our community partners and volunteers, our neighbors will have access to life-saving heat relief resources.
Learn more about United We Prepare and get involved today.
