Save lives this summer.

When summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees, just 15 minutes of exposure can cause permanent damage. Each year, hundreds of people die from the heat. And no one is more at risk than our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

None of us can stop the heat, but together we can help save lives.

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Summer Heat Relief

Why does Code:Red matter?

A few years ago as I drove to work, I saw police cars by a bus stop and a body covered by a blanket. One of our homeless neighbors died from the heat.

Each year, the heat claims hundreds of lives. This is absolutely tragic and totally preventable. I am inviting you to join us and be the reason one less person will die on the streets this summer.

- Ken Brissa, CEO

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Water is Just the Start

Homeless and battling addiction, Rasha spent almost 30 summers on the streets of Phoenix.

“Summers are difficult and exhausting,” Rasha says. “You have to run to every shady spot on the ground, just to try to stay cool. . .That's why we're under bridges and in tunnels — because of the shade.”

The only reason she survived is simple: water.

“You run to every shady spot just to stay cool,” she said. “That's why we were under bridges and in tunnels, because of the shade. But even in the shade, there’s no relief. I remember feeling drained and hopeless—until someone came with water. That moment meant everything.”

That “someone” was one of our Case Managers—and the generosity of someone like you made it possible.

Rasha is a great example of how a little love goes a long way. After the help she received, she came to the Mission and went through our life-changing year-long recovery program. Now she’s off the streets, sober, and has joined our team of Street Outreach Case Managers. She’s hitting the streets for Code:Red this summer!

“I just feel like the best way to use my whole life is to put it into good use — helping others that may feel that there's nobody out there to help them,” she says.

Together, we can equip Rasha and our other Case Mangers to bring life-saving relief to people in desperate need this summer!

Caption: Last summer, for the first time in 10 years the number of heat-related deaths went down. We believe that’s because we had more people on our Code:Red street outreach team than ever before.

With your help this year, even more lives will be saved this year!

In Maricopa County

The Deadly Summer Heat

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Because of partners like you, our Street Outreach team rescued 1,044 people from the streets – 20.5% more than the year before! And, for the first time in a decade, the number of deaths went down!

The Danger is Real

When the temperature exceeds 100 in the Valley, just 15 minutes of exposure can cause permanent damage.

Click below to find out how the heat impacts the body, and why our need to help our homeless neighbors this time of year is so important.

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The Brain & Nervous System

In Phoenix’s intense summer heat, one’s body temperature can rise in minutes. Anything above 104 degrees is dangerous for the brain.

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The Body

Under the duress of high temperatures, the body is at a much greater risk of dehydration, heatstroke, illness — and even death.

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The Heart & Circulatory System

If a homeless neighbor already suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease, heat can mean death. Heat can send an already overworked heart into crisis.

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The Stomach & Intestines

In extreme heat, our bodies need 4 liters of water a day, twice the normal amount. The combination of heat and a lack of adequate water can be deadly.

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Feet & Extremities

The Phoenix pavement can hit 200 degrees at the hottest time of day, causing painful swelling of the feet and an unsafe rise in the body’s temperature.

At high temperatures, the entire body is at a much greater risk of dehydration, heatstroke, illness — and even death.

No one is in more danger than our homeless neighbors.

Every dollar you give provides life-saving water and critical care to our neighbors in need.

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Join Code:Red Now!

Every dollar you give will help provide life-saving water, “Hope Tote” hygiene kits, and critical care for someone experiencing homelessness in the Valley.

Your gift today will not only help save lives by helping people escape the dangerous summer heat. It will also help them get connected to the Mission, where hope and healing are found.

It may sound simple, but a bottle of water or a hygiene kit really can lead to a whole new life!

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Give Water. Save Lives.

Help Us Meet Our Goal

Our goal this summer is to collect and distribute 1,000,000 water bottles to our neighbors in need!

  • 200,000 Bottles Collected

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Water Drop-Off Locations

You can save lives through donating water this summer!

The next time you’re at the grocery store, consider buying an extra pack of water bottles to help us distribute to our neighbors in need. You can drop off water bottles at any of the locations below. Every drop can help save a life!

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Other Ways to Help

Spread the Word

Extreme heat is life-threatening for our neighbors on the streets—and spreading the word can save lives. The more people who know about Phoenix Rescue Mission’s heat relief efforts, the more impact we can make together. It takes all of us—businesses, churches, families, and individuals across the Valley—working together to reach those in danger. Share this message, tell a friend, or post about Code:Red. Your voice could help save a life this summer.

Host a Water Drive

Pick a time and location and challenge people at work, church, school and in your neighborhood to drop off as many cases of water as they can. The 16.9 ounce size bottles are the most convenient for handing out on the streets. We can’t have too many! Click Here for more information on how to get started.

Help Us Fundraise

Our peer-to-peer online fundraising tool is an easy way to ask others to get involved in saving lives. We’ve made it as simple as possible for you to create a page, set a goal, and invite friends, family and co-workers to join, too. Click here to get started and start saving lives across the Valley!