During the summer of 2025, Esperanza supported Arizona Faith Network’s heat respite, hydration, and cooling centers in the Phoenix metro area. AFN welcomed more than 55,000 visits to 10-plus heat respite centers during 2025.
During this June and July, Esperanza will collect donations of bottled water and snacks. You can help by:
- Purchasing case(s) of bottled water and placing in the Sanctuary.
- Purchasing snacks and placing in the large box labeled “Snacks for Heat Respite” located under the table along the west wall of the Fellowship Hall.
- Placing change and currency in the large water bottle located on the altar platform in the Sanctuary. Esperanza’s Community Outreach Team will use this money to purchase bottled water and snacks.
- Providing online donations of money and snacks directly to AFN. This is the link: https://www.
arizonafaithnetwork.org/ become-a-donor - Volunteer at a heat relief center. Click here for information: https://www.
arizonafaithnetwork.org/ positions
Snacks should be healthy, non-perishable, and soft (some homeless have dental issues). Examples are Nutri-grain bars and squeezable apple sauce. Mandarin “Cuties” oranges are desired.
Esperanza’s Community Outreach Team will deliver the bottled water and snacks to AFN’s distribution site. AFN will distribute the water and snacks to the heat respite centers as needed. AFN has not yet posted how many heat respite centers it will be managing in 2026 .
For any questions, please contact Larry Hanson or a member of the Community Outreach Team at [email protected].