Mesa opens respite center, cooling centers to offer heat relief

With the arrival of triple-digit temperatures, the city of Mesa’s Human Services Department is collaborating with local community partners to activate a day respite center, cooling centers and hydration stations to provide heat relief.

“The city and our community partners know how critical it is to provide heat relief services to our most vulnerable residents,” Mayor Mark Freeman said in a release. “It’s also a good reminder to check on neighbors, family and friends who may be homebound to make sure they are safe and staying cool.”

The day respite center has moved to a new location at Christ Church, 655 E. University Drive. The respite center is open 9:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and offers air-conditioned space, rest areas, meals, homeless navigation services and other supportive services. Pets are welcome.

The following cooling centers provide access to water and a safe air-conditioned space to escape the heat:

• Terros Health (Stapley Health Center - Primary Care), 1111 S. Stapley Drive, open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Friends at First, 15 E. First Ave. (Outreach Center), noon-3 p.m. Monday and Thursday May 1-31 and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday June 1-Sept. 30.
• A New Leaf (MesaCAN), 635 E. Broadway, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• ASU MIX Center at Mesa City Center, 50 N. Centennial Way, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• St. Vincent de Paul – Mesa Dining Room, 67 W. Broadway, noon to 5 p.m. daily.
• The Salvation Army - Mesa Citadel Corps, 241 E. Sixth St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Fountain of Life Church, 6625 E. Main St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.

Hydration stations offering bottled water and/or refill stations are available at the following locations:

• Mesa Arts Center north studios building, 1 E. Main St., noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
• Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Mesa Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
• Mesa Dobson Ranch Library, 2526 S. Dobson Road, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Mesa Gateway Library, 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
• Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St., 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
• Copa Health – East Valley Campus, 4330 E. University Drive, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Copa Health – Florian, 4250 E. Florian Ave. (Bldg.2), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Logos Outreach Ministries, 500 W. Southern Ave. (Suite 31), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
• Social Spin – Mesa, 1255 E. Southern Ave. (Suite 1), 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Saturday (closed Memorial Day)
• Terros Health (University), 262 E. University Drive, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Unhooked Recovery – Outpatient Location, 152 N. 56th St., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday

The city of Mesa offers numerous heat safety resources at https://www.mesaaz.gov/Resident-Resources/Heat-Safety including a heat safety webinar. Additional resources include severe weather preparedness information and limited-income assistance programs.

Mesa is also partnering with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Maricopa Association of Governments’ Heat Relief Network, https://hrn.azmag.gov/, to help residents access heat relief services throughout the summer.