GateWay Community College faculty and staff recently participated in collecting and donating a total of 2,340 bottles of water to those in need around the Valley. All five college locations in Phoenix participated in the nearly month-long effort to provide heat relief resources to unsheltered community members in need.
The Maricopa County Bottled Water Drive, hosted by Women United and Valley of the Sun United Way, aimed to raise nearly 200,000 bottles of water to keep individuals hydrated during the blistering summer heat.
"GateWay believes in caring for our community," said Dr. Steven Meneses, Dean of Business, Technology and Trades at GateWay Community College and champion of the effort. "We want to be a resource for our community in more ways than one, and this initiative was a great way to help those who are most vulnerable this time of year."
Using the GateWay HUG Clinic van, staff from GateWay Community College visited the various campuses to collect the bottles and deliver them to Women United by August 31 to help them reach their goal.
"We've committed ourselves to build a culture of well-being at our college," said Dr. Amy Diaz, interim president of GateWay Community College. "Part of that well-being starts in our very own community."
The initiative is just one of many that GateWay employees participate in each year to help give back to their students and community, including GateWay Gives, Runway to Success, and partnering with the Valley of the Sun United Way.