
With heat advisories and triple-digit temperatures already here in the Valley of the Sun, National Heat Awareness Day (which falls on the last Friday of May) isn't so much a warning of what's to come, but a reminder that lives of the most vulnerable are already at stake. The annual threat of heat further strains an already precarious situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.
That's why St. Vincent de Paul is ramping up its heat relief services, which will be in full operation June 1 and run until Aug. 31. As the community’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the scorching heat intersect over the next few months, nonprofits like SVdP are faced with a new set of challenges.
“The Arizona heat exacerbates the need the COVID-19 pandemic has already caused in our community for low-income Arizona families and our homeless population,” SVdP Associate Executive Director Shannon Clancy said. “While we can’t predict with certainty how COVID-19 will affect those we serve, we know for sure that the heat will have deadly consequences, so we must stay proactive.”
In 2019, Maricopa County experienced another record number of 197 heat-associated deaths, of which individuals experiencing homelessness accounted for 37 percent. Equally concerning is the result of COVID-19 clashing with reoccurring summer challenges for low-income families already struggling with income loss from the pandemic and now faced with higher utility bills, increased child care costs and limited access to school food programs.
These colliding pressures are what make SVdP's heat relief services so critical to the community. Those services include:
“The community’s support is more crucial than ever,” Clancy added. “Whether you’d like to donate food, water, or make a financial gift, SVdP will make sure it gets right to the people who need it most.”
For more information on Valley heat relief locations, see Maricopa Association of Government's Heat Relief Regional Network site or scroll down for SVdP's heat relief locations and hours during COVID-19.
SVdP’s Heat Relief locations:
Mesa Dining Room
Phoenix Dining Room
Resource Center
Sunnyslope Dining Room
Help SVdP provide summer relief during these unusual times. Visit www.SummerRelief.org.
Support Ozanam Manor, our shelter for adults who are over 50 or have disabilities. Help us provide shelter and one-on-one case management for some of the most vulnerable neighbors.
Are you interested in learning more about our operation? Getting to know our staff and ways to volunteer or donate? Visit our Watkins Campus!
At St. Vincent de Paul, we need all sorts of helping hands, from patient mentors who can BE with our guest, to strong backs who don’t mind putting in a few hours of helpful work. If you’re inspired, seize the moment and contact our volunteer team today:
There are several ways to donate to St. Vincent de Paul: you can make a monetary donation, arrange a planned gift, donate goods or food, or even donate a vehicle.
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