It's a Valley-wide effort the Salvation Army launches every year, but this summer comes with unprecedented challenges.
David Yardley, a major with the Salvation Army, says it's a "double whammy" providing both COVID-19 aid and heat relief. He adds, "Just like the virus has a deadly effect on people so does the heat here in Arizona... We are here to serve and to make sure that we provide resources that will keep people alive, and keep them from heat illnesses."
The heat relief stations are open for anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on any day the National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning. There's 12 locations:
Apache Junction: Apache Junction Corps Community Center, 605 E. Broadway Rd.
Avondale: Estrella Mountain Corps Community Center, 11 N. Third Ave.
Chandler: Chandler Corps Community Center, 85 E. Saragosa St.
Glendale:
- Glendale Corps Community Center, 6010 W. Northern Ave.
- Valley of the Sun Korean Corps Community Center, 7238 N. 61st Ave.
Mesa: Mesa Corps Community Center, 241 E. Sixth St.
Phoenix:
- Phoenix Citadel Corps Community Center, 628 N. Third Ave.
- Phoenix Maryvale Corps Community Center, 4318 W. Clarendon Ave.
- Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center South Mountain, 1375 E. Broadway Rd.
- The Salvation Army Phoenix Family Services Office, 2707 E. Van Buren St., Bldg. 2
Surprise: Sun Cities West Valley Corps Community Center, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts Blvd.
Tempe: Tempe Corps Community Center, 40 E. University Dr.
The Salvation Army offers water, and in some locations, air conditioning. New this year is hand sanitizer and other PPE.
Officers delivering aid are adhering to CDC guidelines. "Plus, extra cleaning after someone comes visits us. Keeping the germs down. So, that's important to us along with our other responsibilities," says Major Yardley.
If you are interested in helping the Salvation Army, you can find more information at salvationarmyphoenix.org. Yardley says they are in great need of water donations.
