The city of Chandler opened its day respite center and eight cooling locations on May 1, offering any resident a safe place to recover and cool down as the temperatures continue to rise.

Initially, the city planned to provide overnight respite services only during excessive heat warnings advised by the National Weather Service. Now it will offer this service every night starting Friday, June 13, through Sept. 12, according to a news release.

Those in need of the overnight service must check in at the city’s day respite center located at AZCEND, 345 S. California St., in downtown Chandler. The intake process will begin at 6 p.m. every evening.

Those utilizing the service may store their belongings before being transported to the Chandler Senior Center, 202 E. Boston St., for a meal and the opportunity to sleep comfortably on cots in a climate-controlled, safe environment, the release states.

“During the summer months, you can’t tell the difference between excessive and extreme temperatures — it’s just dangerously hot,” Riann Balch, Chandler’s community development and resources senior manager, stated in the release. “We want to ensure those in need can sleep safely in a comfortable place for the night.”

AZCEND staff will transport guests back to AZCEND beginning at 5:30 a.m. the following day. Guests will also be able to receive breakfast and may stay for day respite services, which include air conditioning, hydration, snacks and a place for uninterrupted rest, the release states.

Guests will also have access to restroom facilities, shower and laundry services. Chandler’s Community Navigation Team will be available to offer its resources as needed.

Below are the locations of the eight additional cooling centers in Chandler, which offer water, snacks and reprieve from the heat:

• Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive
  7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Wednesday; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday–Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
• Chandler Nature Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road
  8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
• Chandler Neighborhood Resources Department, 235 S. Arizona Ave.
  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday
• Downtown Chandler Library, 22 S. Delaware St.
  9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday–Saturday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
• Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave.
  7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Wednesday; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday–Friday; 1–5 p.m. Saturday 
• Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Road
  9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday–Saturday; 1–5 p.m. Sunday
• Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Road
  5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Friday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Salvation Army, 85 E. Saragosa St.
  11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

This effort is in partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Maricopa Association of Governments’ Heat Relief Network.

Chandler also is accepting donations of water and snacks during heat relief season. The public may drop them off directly at AZCEND’s respite center during its hours of operation, which are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays through Fridays.

Donations for heat relief items also can be made online at Chandler Heat Relief via Chandler’s ChangeUp fund.

For additional information about heat relief locations throughout the region or heat safety tips, click here: Chandler Heat Relief.

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