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
ABOUT MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
ABOUT THE JUSTA CENTER