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Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign Off to Strong Start to Save Lives

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Mesa's 20th Annual Hydration Donation Campaign is underway to save more lives during Arizona's extreme heat season. The campaign has started and continues through Sept. 30 to help Mesa's most vulnerable residents. This morning's kickoff event at United Food Bank included cash donations totaling approximately $15,000 from several businesses including EdgeCore, Holder, DP Electric, SRP and EdgeConnex. Walmart delivered a semi-truck filled with more than 46,000 bottles of water to United Food Bank's warehouse. Mesa's community partners are urging the public to help collect 500,000 bottles of water to assist people in need. This includes a target of $50,000 in online cash donations to buy water in addition to the donated cases of water to achieve the 500,000-bottle goal.

"Mesa's Hydration Donation Campaign really shows what's possible when our community comes together for a common cause," said Vice Mayor Scott Somers. "Every case of water and every dollar makes a real difference during Arizona's intense summer heat. I'm grateful for the continued generosity of our residents, businesses and partners who step up each year to help make sure everyone in Mesa has access to something as essential as water."

United Food Bank distributes donated water to numerous nonprofit organizations in Mesa and throughout the valley. Through this partnership with the City of Mesa, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and local nonprofits, donated water helps ensure people most at risk of heat exposure during the summer months have access to bottled water. The initiative also provides bottled water to Mesa Police and Mesa Fire and Medical Department first responders to assist individuals they encounter in the field who may be experiencing heat-related illness.

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Mesa's Hydration Donation campaign has been saving lives since 2007 during Arizona's extremely hot summers. Since the campaign began, the Mesa community has donated more than 8.2 million bottles of water.

"The Arizona summer months are known for their extreme heat, and we want to make sure each of our neighbors has plenty of water to stay hydrated," said Jason Reed, the president and CEO of United Food Bank. "We are thrilled to once again be partnering with the City of Mesa for this annual water drive. We hope you join us by making a monetary or water donation to help provide our community the water they need throughout the summer."

Donating to the campaign online is easier and you avoid the challenge of lifting large, heavy cases of water. Donations to United Food Bank also qualify for the Arizona Charitable Giving Tax Credit, which is up to $1009 for married filing jointly or $506 if filing singly on your 2026 state income tax return.

With the Valley already experiencing triple digit temperatures, the Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign is a stark reminder of the dangers of Arizona's summer heat.

"Staying hydrated in Arizona's extreme heat is a safety matter. Access to clean, drinkable water can be lifesaving, especially for our most vulnerable community members. At Valleywise Health, we see firsthand the serious effects of extreme heat every summer, from dehydration and heat stroke to contact burns," said Dr. Michael White, Chief Clinical Officer at Valleywise Health. "Efforts like Mesa's Hydration Donation campaign provide critical resources while raising awareness about a very real public health risk in our community."

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In 2021, Mesa Hydration Campaign donor Amanda Ferguson started Bottles for Bill, a nonprofit organization to provide water to support local relief efforts like the Hydration Donation Campaign and raise awareness of heat dangers. The organization is named in memory of her brother, Bill Grimmer, who died from heat stroke in the Arizona desert in August 2013.

"I'm honoring my brother with Bottles for Bill and asking residents to do the same by donating water to lifesaving efforts like the Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign," said Amanda Ferguson. Since its founding, Bottles for Bill has donated more than 300,000 bottles to the campaign. More information about the organization is available at bottlesforbill.org.

The Mesa Chamber of Commerce is encouraging businesses and community groups to organize campaigns to donate water and cash for the campaign.

"The Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign is a great way for businesses, nonprofit groups and other associations to network and organize efforts to collect cases of water or raise money for United Food Bank to buy more cases of water," said Sally Harrison, Mesa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. "For several years, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce has organized friendly competitions to get water donations and we are happy to do it again, along with encouraging groups to match donations of money for this great lifesaving cause again this summer."

Residents can donate water at various drop-off locations throughout the City. The complete list of locations is available at mesaaz.gov/H2OMesa. Cash donations are also accepted by United Food Bank.

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