Valley food bank collecting water bottles ahead of heatwave
Jun 15, 2017, 12:55 PM
(Public Domain Photo)
(Public Domain Photo)
PHOENIX — A Valley food bank is asking the public to donate as many water bottles as possible before a heatwave hits the Phoenix area.
Jerry Brown with the St. Mary’s Food Bank said the agency needed water – and lots of it – to help people make it through temperatures that could reach higher than 120 degrees.
“The last time the weather went like this, we went through a truckload of water in a very quick period of time,” he said.
Brown said the food bank was not overly picky about donations.
“We’re looking for the 16-ounce bottles of water,” Brown said. “They’re the easiest ones for folks to carry and drink but, any size bottle of water – in any container that’s closed – we will be happy to accept.”
Goodwill of Arizona has partnered with St Mary’s to help collect the water. More than 70 Valley Goodwill locations will serve as drop-off locations.
The collection service will run through next week.
The National Weather Service said the mercury could reach 123 degrees by Wednesday.
“On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – when the heat is expected to get to its apex – both of our locations in Phoenix and Surprise will be handing out cases of water to anyone who needs it,” Brown said.
The water will not only go to the less fortunate. St. Mary’s is also on call to help firefighters and those who may have to evacuate their homes in case of wildfires in the Valley and northern Arizona.
