As triple digit heat pounds the Las Vegas Valley, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada is firing up its annual summer relief push and asking locals to chip in: bottled water, electrolyte packets, sunscreen and other basics that can literally keep people alive on the street. The nonprofit says it aims to collect roughly 20,000 bottles and electrolyte packets and is opening its shelter during the hottest hours so people have a cool place to rest. Outreach workers warn that scorching afternoons are especially dangerous for anyone living outside, in vehicles or in makeshift encampments.
As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Catholic Charities President and CEO Sara Ramirez said the effort is squarely focused on preventing heat related illness among people who have no shade or reliable refrigeration. Ramirez told the paper that “extreme heat does not create poverty, but it definitely magnifies it,” underscoring how basic items like water can be life saving. The Review-Journal also notes the group will accept monetary donations through its website.
What the Drive Needs and How to Help
The campaign’s wish list includes bottled water, electrolyte mixes, sunscreen, nonperishable food, lip balm, hats and shoes, along with monetary gifts for distribution, according to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. The nonprofit’s donation page lays out which items are accepted and how to drop goods off or make gifts online. Volunteers and partner agencies will funnel supplies to outreach teams that hand out single bottles and small cooling kits directly to people on the street instead of bulky cases that are tough to haul or store.
Numbers Behind the Push
New Point in Time data released this week show 8,859 people were experiencing homelessness in Clark County in January, and roughly 57% of that total were unsheltered, about 5,000 people sleeping outside or in vehicles, per Nevada Current. At the same time, the Southern Nevada Health District heat associated deaths report shows the region saw 513 heat associated deaths in 2024 and at least 284 in 2025, figures public health officials point to when urging donations and expanded access to cooling. Those overlapping trends, more people unsheltered and stubbornly high heat fatalities, are what push charities to scale up summer relief.
Cooling Stations and On-the-Ground Relief
Clark County has activated daytime cooling stations across the valley during this blast of extreme heat, and county officials say staffed sites will offer water and a place to rest during peak hours, according to Clark County. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has also warned of extreme heat this week, heightening the urgency of getting supplies and shade to those without air conditioning, per the National Weather Service. Outreach groups say cooling centers can be a lifesaver for a few hours, but they are no substitute for steady day to day hydration for people who lack storage space or reliable transportation.
Nonprofits Link Up Across the Valley
Beyond Catholic Charities, other local groups such as HELP of Southern Nevada have long run summer water drives and distribution programs, a mix of donated single bottles and street outreach that nonprofits say works best, as detailed in this water drive could mean life or death. Volunteers and outreach teams report that repeated, targeted drop offs are far more practical than expecting people to lug cases of water around, and partnerships with shelters and libraries help offer short term respite indoors. That coordination is what Catholic Charities hopes to plug into as temperatures climb.
Catholic Charities says people can drop donations at its downtown campus or give online through its donation page, per Catholic Charities. The group also stressed that even small items like single bottles and lip balm can make a difference on the hottest afternoons. For details on what to give and drop off hours, visit the charity’s guidance online and check the cooling station list from Clark County for places to find immediate relief.
