As triple-digit heat bore down on Tempe this week, the city’s main safety-net nonprofit moved fast to keep one neighborhood oasis from going dark. The Tempe Community Action Agency stepped in with more than $61,000 so the Church of the Epiphany can stay open as a heat-relief center, covering staffing, hydration supplies and operating costs. The goal is simple but critical: give low-income families and older residents a safe daytime refuge so they are not forced to run costly air conditioning at home all day.
According to ABC15, TCAA CEO Phillip Scharf said seniors and low-income households are increasingly relying on hydration and cooling centers to dodge soaring utility bills. The station reports that the more than $61,000 donation will keep the Church of the Epiphany site staffed, supplied and open while the extreme-heat outlook drags on.
Why the money matters
Heat remains the deadliest weather threat in Arizona, and local numbers back that up. Maricopa County recorded 430 heat-related deaths in 2025. Those figures, along with the county’s expanded Heat Relief Network, help explain why cities and nonprofits work so hard to keep cooling and hydration sites open through the summer.
Where to cool off in Tempe
Tempe’s official heat-relief page lists the Church of the Epiphany at 2222 S. Price Road as one of the city’s staffed cooling centers, open Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., along with the Tempe Public Library. The same page outlines drop-off locations for bottled water, electrolytes and other supplies, plus a searchable Heat Relief Network map that shows additional hydration stations. Tempe.gov keeps the full list of locations and hours up to date.
The Tempe Community Action Agency runs food pantries, senior services, housing assistance and outreach efforts that frequently intersect with heat-relief work across the city. Its website lays out service locations and programs, from Meals on Wheels to emergency shelter and neighborhood outreach, all aimed at connecting vulnerable residents with cooling centers and other critical support. Tempe Community Action Agency details those programs and where to access them.
How to get help or donate
Residents who need a cool place to stay or help with transportation can call the city’s CARE & HOPE line at 480-350-8004 or dial 211 Arizona for assistance, according to the city. Larger donations of water or electrolytes can be arranged through the city’s HOPE email, and the Heat Relief page lists volunteer opportunities and drop-off sites, including the Church of the Epiphany, for anyone looking to chip in. Tempe.gov
