Community responds to heat crisis in Imperial Valley
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – As temperatures rise and resources run low, nonprofits in Imperial County are stepping in to support those most vulnerable to the summer heat.
This week, the Salud Sin Fronteras Coalition gathered in El Centro to hand out hygiene and hydration supplies to unhoused and at-risk community members.
The outreach is led by Access to Thrive, The Becoming Project, Our Roots Multicultural Center, and Comite Civico del Valle.
“More shoulders make for lighter loads, and that’s how we approach everything here,” said William Cooper with The Becoming Project. “The more of us who get involved, the further our reach.”
Organizers say they’re adapting based on what people in the community actually ask for.
“One comment was, do you guys have deodorant? We didn’t bring deodorant this time, but it’s definitely something we’ll be adding to the list,” said Ashley Contreras, Executive Director of Access to Thrive.
Volunteers shared some of what they’re providing, including toothbrushes, bandanas, sanitary pads, and informational pamphlets.
“So we start off by handing them this, a toothbrush, information about heat resilience and illness prevention, sanitary pads if needed, and a bandana,” one volunteer explained.
But it’s not just about supplies. Organizers say education is just as important, especially when it comes to preventing heat-related illness.
“You can experience heat exhaustion or heat stroke even within the home, just by having symptoms, depending on the indoor heat,” said one coalition member.
The Salud Sin Fronteras Coalition says this is just the beginning of their emergency response efforts.
“This is our first time out here and it’s not going to be perfect, but we will be consistent,” said one organizer. “We’re gonna be in different places in the Valley, and it’ll get more and more specific to meet the needs of the Valley.”
To learn how you can help or get involved, you can reach out directly to the organizations taking part in this effort:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Our-Roots-Multicultural-Center-100064731427108