Since 2007, the city of Mesa has hosted a hydration donation campaign where residents and companies are urged to donate bottles of water during the hot summer months. Those water bottles are then distributed to those in need during the summer season, such as the unhoused population or those living in spaces without access to air-conditioning.
The 2024 iteration of the campaign was the most successful since its inception. With 1,014,160 bottles of water donated between May 6 and Sept. 27, the campaign smashed its goal of 700,000 and even broke the record of 836,154 bottles set in 2015.
Sally Harrison, president and CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, said a large chunk of donations came from various data centers in the area, which was part of a challenge issued by the chamber to incentivize more donations.
