As the heat is setting new records in Arizona, the United Food Bank campaign is putting more efforts to hydrate the people by providing water in the valley.

The 10th annual Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign is encouraging people to donate water for the people in need, so that no one should be without water, Ginny Hildebrand, the President and CEO of the United Food Bank said.

The food bank distributes donated water to non-profit groups across Mesa and the Phoenix area, including Paz De Cristo, the Mesa United Way and New Leaf-East Valley Men's Center.

The campaigns was kicked off on June 6 with two businesses contributions. The Walmart contributed 24,480 bottles of water and Jackson White Attorneys at Law donated 3,744 bottles.

The campaign will be continued till September 16. The organization aims to raise a half-million water bottles this year. Around 836,154 bottles were donated during the last year.

Hildebrand said that, "Throughout the East Valley154,493 people are food-insecure, not knowing where that food is coming from. They often don't know where their water is coming from, either."

"I can tell you we have many occasions where families come and say, 'My utilities have cut off, can I please have some water?”

Forrest Smith, Mesa Fire and Medical Department deputy chief and spokesman, said that,  high temperatures take a toll on the human body. "Take away 2 gallons of water (from the body), that basically leads toward seizure, coma and death," Smith said.

Dennis Kavanaugh, vice mayor of Mesa, said that, "It's easy for most of us to take for granted. A nice cold drink of water is accessible to us."

"We have that bottle out of the fridge, drinking fountain or even as basic as from our sinks at home. We need to always remember that not everyone is as fortunate. That's why this time of year can be so dangerous to those who don't have access to water. That's why this hydration program is so important," Kavanaugh said.

Also Read : International Day of Yoga in Arizona

Nandini