Mesa launches water donation campaign for those in need

PHOENIX– The City of Mesa is encouraging the public to donate water bottles for its annual water collection and redistribution campaign.

Mesa and partners are aiming to collect and redistribute 400,000 water bottles for its Water Hydration Campaign which launched Wednesday, officials said in a press release.

Water will be distributed to the city’s most vulnerable members throughout the hottest season of the year.

Since 2007, the Mesa community donated more than 4.5 million bottles of water, city officials said in the release.

“The Hydration Donation Campaign has saved countless lives over the past 14 years thanks to the amazing generosity of our community,” Mesa Councilmember Kevin Thompson said in the release.

“Each and every year they step up to help the less fortunate through our hot Arizona summer months and I know 2021 will be no different.”

Mesa resident Amanda Ferguson contributed 60,000 bottles of water last year in memory of her brother who died from heat exhaustion.

Ferguson encourages donations in order to raise awareness and resources for heat-related danger.

Officials launched the campaign Wednesday with a news conference at United Food Bank, one if its partners set to distribute the donated water to nonprofit organizations in the Valley.

“The risks of dehydration are great for anyone exposed to the triple digit temperatures, especially those who are unsheltered or don’t have a place to easily get out of the sun,” Forrest Smith, Mesa Fire and Medical deputy chief, said in the release.

“Without donations of water, the outcomes of our emergency responses to cases of dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke would be much worse.”

The Mesa Chamber of Commerce, along with the campaign’s partners, are promoting the One Ton Water Challenge to boost donations by allowing people to purchase a pallet of water, which weighs more than 2,000 pounds, for about $150.

Donations can be made at participating locations until October 1. For more information visit mesaaz.gov/H2OMesa.

For more information on how to donate a pallet, contact Melissa Forrester at mforrester@unitedfoodbank.org