Help Keep Our Street Friends Hydrated This Summer
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them. — Isaiah 49:10
Our overall good health is dependent upon water. Not only does the human body depend on water to stay alive, but every organ in our bodies needs water to work properly. Our bodies use water to maintain its temperature, remove waste and lubricate our joints.
What can one cold bottle of water do?
Have you ever worked up such a sweat that you just couldn’t wait to get an ice cold drink of water? Your mouth starts to dry out, and a headache sets in. Those experiencing homelessness face this challenge on a daily basis in the summer months. They are walking the streets with few places to find relief from the scorching sun and no access to public drinking water. Passing along just one bottle of water could save someone from heat exhaustion or dehydration, and even save a life.
We’ve heard their cries over the past couple summers for water
Bottled water is essential for the overall health and hydration of our poor and homeless clients, who can be given this portable source of a human necessity, which can even be recycled for money back. We have been distributing water as an extra, along with the regular drink, that goes with their meal; clients can take the water with them to go. The bottle of water you donate could be the lifeline for someone this summer.
As part of our feeding program at the Library downtown, Hearts has been giving ice cold water during the summer months to our poor and homeless clients. We freeze it ahead of time so it stays cold for a longer period of time in the summer heat and hopefully still cold when they want to drink it. Last year, many of you donated bottled water which enabled us to give our clients from the Mobile Soup Kitchen ice cold bottled water, all summer long into the fall.
Every week, we distribute at least 375 bottles of water. Hearts is also providing an additional 280 meals a week to the homeless being housed at a facility during the Coronavirus pandemic which increases our total need for bottled water to 655 per week. If you would like to donate bottled water to help us keep our street friends hydrated this summer, please bring personal sized bottled water to our outreach center at 890 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, 14207 (Riverside section of Buffalo) Monday through Saturday, from 10am to 4pm; or you can give $3.99 per case of water that you would like to donate for Hearts to purchase.