Before we know it, the hot summer sun will be upon us, and with it an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. Though it seems like yesterday we were ringing in the new year - NOW is the time to prepare! As the days grow longer, residents of the Valley are testing their AC units, topping off their vehicle Freon, busting out their summer wardrobe, and stocking up on sunscreen.

Our unhoused neighbors are especially at risk. Their preparations look a bit different - scrambling to find any semblance of affordable housing, and in the meantime - protecting their coolers from theft, fortifying shade, checking locations of the nearest cooling centers, and letting friends know where to check for proof of life if they don't show up to a medical appointment or meetup.

Prolonged exposure to the heat can cause burns, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, loss of consciousness, and even death. Hygiene and mental health also suffer in extreme heat. This is a humanitarian crisis in our own backyards.

Supplies we tend to take for granted can prove to be life-savers in times of crisis, items such as a cooling towel, a fresh pair of socks, a cold bottle of water, an electrolyte packet, a portable fan.

Supporting an average of 1,000 unhoused individuals daily, the 15 partner agencies at the Key Campus distribute a mind-boggling 120,000 bottles of water each summer month - that's 4,000 bottles a day.

Our goal for the summer is to fundraise for and/or collect 600,000 bottles of water, plus heat relief supplies to furnish all 15 Key Campus partners throughout the summer months.