Valley nonprofit Stardust will assemble over 1,000 heat relief kits alongside volunteers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Arizona Heat Relief Network on Monday, March 25.
“Arizona’s extreme heat can be devastating to those most vulnerable in our community. By donating cases of bottled water or financial resources to Stardust or the Arizona Faith Network Valley, residents are helping to make our summer months a little easier and safer to those in need,” said Karen L Jayne, Stardust CEO.
The kit packing for distribution will occur from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 25 at Stardust’s Mesa Reuse Center. Each heat relief kit will contain essentials like bottled water, snacks, a travel-sized first aid kit, wet wipes, lotion, sunscreen, lip balm and resource flyers detailing information about heat relief assistance, cooling center locations and free transportation.
This March 25 event is closed to the public, but monetary and water donations to support the heat relief effort are welcome. Cases of bottled water can be donated to Stardust Reuse Centers in both Mesa and Glendale, where donations are accepted Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Valley residents can make financial donations to Stardust's website, stardustbuilding.org, or Arizona Faith Network's website, arizonafaithnetwork.org, to support the group's efforts.
These heat relief kits will prepare life-saving aid for unhoused and vulnerable communities ahead of Arizona’s sweltering, deadly summer heat.
Each year, 300 to 500 Arizona residents die from exposure to excessive heat – more than the combined deaths of victims of tornados, floods, hurricanes and lightning strikes, according to the MAG Heat Relief Network. Unfortunately, Arizona set a new grim record in 2023 for the number of heat-related deaths, 645, according to Maricopa County.
The heat relief kits have a variety of items inside, including a 211 Information Card, all intended to help alleviate the negative effects of extreme heat on individuals in the community.
All items inside help folks stay hydrated and protected from the severe heat. For instance, the lip balm and lotion is included due to the lack of moisture in the air during summer, as this dryness can result in cracked, chapped skin. Sunscreen protects skin from painful burns and reduces a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. Reusable water bottles are included not just for sustainability reasons, but to ensure that a person can easily refill their supply whenever they have access to water. The information card in each kit keeps vulnerable communities informed on locations of heat relief centers, as well as transportation information, added Jayne.
Stardust is a local 501(c)(3) affordably selling gently-used, salvaged and surplus home building materials.
