A1 Cares: Helping the Homeless Battle the Extreme Heat

Last year, 200 homeless Maricopa County residents died from extreme heat. This year has potential to be even more deadly, as temperatures have already reached 118 degrees in the Phoenix Valley.

A1 Garage Door Service is partnering with the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Heat Relief Network and Phoenix’s Justa Center to provide bottled water to the most at-risk homeless individuals.

“Our technicians and installers battle this heat every day, but when they finish their work, they’re able to return to an air-conditioned vehicle,” said Tommy Mello, owner and CEO of A1 Garage Door Service. “Homeless individuals don’t have that luxury. When one of our technicians brought us the idea of organizing a water collection drive, we didn’t see it as an opportunity. We saw it as our responsibility.”

 

Our team members across the country are contributing to the cause, and we’re asking our customers in Phoenix to help out, as well. If we’re providing service to your home, our team can accept bottled water donations and return them to our office for distribution to the Justa Center.

“A person can live their entire life without love but cannot last one day without water,” said Rudy Soliz, director of operations at the Justa Center. “For those experiencing homelessness and without shelter, water is the difference between living and dying.”

Our goal of providing 25,000 bottles of water to the homeless by Sept. 1 would not have been possible without the assistance of the Maricopa Association of Governments. MAG orchestrates the region’s Heat Relief Network, which coordinates with and promotes cooling centers, hydration and emergency heat relief stations throughout the region.  

“The Heat Relief Network is a true community effort that brings together cities and towns, nonprofit agencies, faith-based organizations, businesses and individuals, who mobilize to provide resources to those who are vulnerable,” said Brande Mead, Human Services director for MAG. “Providing water, so that people experiencing homelessness can stay hydrated in the heat, may save a life.” 

If you’d like to contribute but don’t need garage door service, we’re accepting donations and online purchase deliveries through Sept. 1. at our office at:

A1 Cares
3254 E. Broadway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85040

“Thank you to our team, clients and the community at large for supporting this important cause,” Tommy Mello said. “We look forward to opening new doors through this partnership with MAG and the Justa Center. Together, we can help take care of our friends, neighbors and the people of Maricopa County.

ABOUT A1 GARAGE DOOR

Founded by Tommy Mello in 2006, A1 Garage Door Service is one of the largest and fastest-growing garage door service and installation companies in the country. Our mission is to provide our customers with the absolute highest quality service and best value in the industry. Our vision is clear: We’re becoming the national leader in garage door services, one neighborhood at a time.

ABOUT MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) provides a forum for local governments working together on issues that affect the lives of everyone in the greater Phoenix region. They are a regional agency that conducts planning and makes policy decisions in a number of core areas. These include safe and smart travel, the economy and growth, environment and sustainability, and improving quality of life, all with a focus on efficient and effective operations.

ABOUT THE JUSTA CENTER

Justa Center is one of the nation’s only day-resource centers exclusively for homeless seniors (age 55+) focused on providing services that help the seniors on their path to home. Justa Center provides life-sustaining resources, services, and support to assist homeless seniors on their path back to housing, and supportive services to help prevent a return to homelessness.