Frontline Heat Relief in Arizona: Mutual Aid GROUPS, Direct Service OrgS You Can Support in the Summer
Written by Abby Michael
Every summer, Arizona’s extreme heat becomes a deadly public health crisis — especially for unsheltered and low-income communities across the state, and the crisis is getting worse. In 2024 alone, 49% of all heat-related deaths in Maricopa County were among people experiencing homelessness, according to the Maricopa County Public Health 2024 Heat-Related Deaths Report. These numbers have increased nearly tenfold over the last decade, and during the height of summer, someone dies from heat exposure every single day.
These are not statistics to gloss over. They are a call to community care, especially as the country and state brace for more defunding of social services and programs.
Arizona’s mutual aid groups and direct service organizations are stepping up to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. From cold water and cooling kits to hygiene supplies, food, and human connection, these groups are working tirelessly to provide life-saving care on the frontlines of this crisis. But they can't do it alone.
Here are 10 direct-service organizations and mutual aid groups doing essential work across Arizona—and how you can support them this summer:
Unsheltered Phoenix Street Watch | Phoenix
Unsheltered Phoenix Street Watch is a grassroots volunteer collective providing direct outreach to unsheltered neighbors in Phoenix. They distribute essential survival supplies—including water, food, tents, ice, blankets, carts, and bike tubes—to ensure no one is left without hydration or protection during Arizona’s extreme summer heat. Their mission is to raise awareness about homelessness while offering dignity, care, and life-saving support.
How to help:
Purchase and donate requested supplies like bottled water (gallons and cases), water jugs, ice chests, tents, hygiene items, or other items on their Amazon wishlist. You can also drop off items in person in Phoenix. Donations can be dropped off at Tres Leches Café through October. They also take monetary donations through Venmo or Cashapp @radicalcommunitycare.
To stay up to date or volunteer, visit their Instagram.
Community on Wheels | Tucson (Tohono O’odham land)
Community on Wheels (C.O.W.) is a volunteer-led mutual aid group serving unsheltered neighbors in South Tucson on Tohono O’odham land. Through weekly outreach at Santa Rita Park (Saturdays, 4–5:30 PM), they distribute water, food, hygiene kits, first-aid, harm-reduction supplies, clothing, backpacks, and camping gear. C.O.W. centers dignity, relationship-building, and long-term justice in every distribution—meeting immediate needs while advocating for systemic change. Their annual “COW Christmas” event has provided care packages and meals to over 150 community members.
How to help: Donate supplies or DM @communityonwheels on Instagram to volunteer or coordinate a drop-off.
Tempe Community Action Agency | Tempe
Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) is a longstanding nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing poverty and extreme heat in Arizona. Their services include food assistance, housing support, and emergency relief through programs like the I-HELP shelter. During the summer, TCAA distributes water, cooling kits, prepackaged meals, and hygiene items to help those most at risk.
How to help: Donate supplies, host a drive, or volunteer to provide meals. Learn more at tempeaction.org or visit them at 1208 E Broadway Rd, Suite 111, Tempe, AZ 85282.
Circle the City | Phoenix
Circle the City is a mobile healthcare nonprofit providing medical care and compassionate support to people experiencing homelessness across Maricopa County. In addition to mobile clinics, they distribute over 20,000 “Kindness Kits” annually—filled with hygiene items, socks, snacks, sunscreen, and reusable water bottles—to promote dignity and comfort.
Their mission blends immediate relief with long-term stability, and they rely on community generosity to sustain their work.
How to help: Assemble or donate supplies for Kindness Kits, volunteer your time, or give a financial gift. Call (602) 776-0776, visit circlethecity.org, and keep up at @circlethecityaz on Instagram.
Keys to Change | Phoenix
Keys to Change is a Phoenix-based nonprofit working to end homelessness through coordinated support, emergency relief, and long-term housing pathways. They operate the Key Campus Welcome Center, a 24/7 cooling station in downtown Phoenix, and lead Thirst Aid, a summer heat-relief campaign providing water, meals, hygiene kits, and shelter.
With Arizona’s extreme heat posing a growing threat, they urgently need water, supplies, volunteers, and funding to continue this life-saving work.
How to help: Drop-off supplies at 1300 W Harrison St, Phoenix, AZ 85007, visit keystochangeaz.org/thirst-aid.
Rise Indigenous + Ahehee’ Shidine’e Homecare | Phoenix
Rise Indigenous + Ahehee’ Shidine’e Homecare are two Indigenous-led teams rooted in ancestral care, working together to provide essential heat relief to unsheltered relatives in Phoenix. Their efforts focus on distributing coolers filled with water, electrolyte packs, snacks, and hygiene items—especially during the most dangerous stretches of Arizona’s extreme summer heat.
They’ve already given out over 60 coolers and are preparing to distribute 100 more. Continued support through donations, supplies, and funding is vital to sustain this work.
How to help: Donate needed items like water jugs, electrolyte mixes, cooling towels, ice chests, oranges, snacks, and hygiene products. Follow and share their posts on Instagram at @riseindigenous and @ahehee.hc.
Drop-off locations include:
Coronado PHX (2245 N 12th St, PHX)
Ahehee’ Shidine’e Homecare (7550 N 19th Ave, Ste 205)
Truce Wellness (1757 E Baseline Rd, Ste 102, Gilbert)
Donate virtually at tinyurl.com/PhxSummer25.
Community Care Tucson | Tucson
Community Care Tucson is a mutual aid project serving displaced and unsheltered communities on Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui land. Their work focuses on ensuring access to clean water, reusable bottles, cooling gear, food, and hygiene products—all critical during Tucson’s extreme summer heat. Operating through community partnerships and donation hubs at local businesses, they aim to uphold hydration, dignity, and resilience among Tucson’s most vulnerable.
How to help: Donate, volunteer, or partner as a local business.
Drop-off locations include:
Rozet Nursery (7707 E. 22nd St, Tucson, AZ 85710)
Decibel Coffee Works (267 S. Avenida Del Convento #9, Tucson, AZ 85745)
Slowbody Beer (831 E. 17th St, Tucson, AZ)
AZ Hugs | Tempe
AZ Hugs is a grassroots group providing hydration, nourishment, and care to unsheltered neighbors through community-led cooling centers, weekly Sunday picnics at Papago Park (3–6 PM), and laundry services at Rollins Laundromat (Mondays, 6:30–8:30 PM).
Rooted in care, respect, and belonging, their work offers water, food, socks, and emergency supplies to help people stay safe during Arizona’s extreme heat.
How to help: Donate water, snacks, or hygiene items—or sign up to volunteer at azhugs.org.
Picnic location: 1000 N. College Ave, Tempe
Laundry location: 1090 W. 5th St, Tempe
Dignity Project Phoenix | Phoenix
Dignity Project Phoenix is a volunteer-led initiative offering cold water, “dignity bags,” and heartfelt connection to unsheltered neighbors across the Phoenix metro area. Their mission is simple but powerful: one cold water bottle, one conversation at a time.
By centering compassion, respect, and personal care, they humanize the experience of homelessness and support partners like the HT Drop-In Center during peak summer heat.
Help by visiting their Instagram at @dignityprojectphx for donation forms, wish lists, and volunteer opportunities.
Agua Para el Pueblo | Tucson
Agua Para el Pueblo is a Tucson-based mutual aid project building a network of free Community Water Stations to ensure public access to drinking water during the extreme summer heat.
Stations are hosted outside local businesses and placed in high-need areas to support vulnerable Tucsonans, especially those without consistent access to clean water. Every station is free, unrestricted, and open to all.
How to help: Donate water or DM on Instagram at @aguaparaelpueblotucson to host or support a station.
(Credit: Into Action)
These direct-service organizations and mutual aid groups aren’t waiting—they’re already out there, organizing in scorching heat, keeping our neighbors alive. Their efforts are about more than hydration—they are about dignity, safety, and survival.
Those closest to the crisis are closest to the solutions. These frontline groups are not only distributing water and supplies—they’re modeling what community care looks like under pressure. Supporting direct service and mutual aid efforts means solidarity — not charity, but community collaboration, reciprocity, decentralization, and a focus on systemic change for all. Let’s move in partnership, with urgency and heart.
Every cooler, bottle, and act of care makes a difference.
Direct-service organizations and mutual-aid groups' needs and drop-off locations can be subject to change due to the nature of their work. If this blog needs updating or if there is an organization or group we should add to this list, please contact us at comms@instituto.io.