United Food Bank President and CEO Ginny Hildebrand announces the goal for the 9th Annual Hydration Campaign at a press conference on June 1.

It’s summer, which means three-digit temperatures are here to stay.

In support of Mesa’s 9th Annual Hydration Donation Campaign, Eastmark has pledged to collect 5,000 water bottles for the homeless and unsheltered in our community who are most at risk of dehydration.

The city-wide campaign aims to collect 400,000 donations. Water bottles are distributed through United Food Bank to numerous agencies in the valley, including A New Leaf-East Valley Men’s Center, Paz de Cristo, Saint Vincent de Paul and Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS).

The Community Life Team invites residents to get involved and donate a case of water to help us achieve this goal. For every case of water donated, residents will be entered into a drawing for family passes to Golf Land Sunsplash.

Then, in July, the Community Life Team will host an ice-cream party in celebration of meeting our goal.

We will track  our progress in the weekly updates and on Facebook.

The greater community is welcome to drop off water bottle donations at The Eastmark Visitor & Community Center at 10100 E. Ray Road in Mesa through the end of the campaign.