PHOENIX (STN) – What began as a milestone moment quickly turned into a movement.
As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, Mercy Care launched a bold summer initiative to support heat relief efforts across the Valley, setting a goal to collect 40,000 bottles of water for vulnerable community members.
The effort served as a powerful example of what happens when a mission-driven organization mobilizes its people to make an immediate impact. Mercy Care’s frontline employees, many of whom are culturally embedded ambassadors in the community, led the charge.
“This is Mercy Care’s 40th anniversary, and we thought, what better way to celebrate than by collecting 40,000 bottles?” said Trisha Stewart, director of community relations. “And the way it’s going, it looks like maybe 40,000 cases. It’s a way for Mercy Care to give back [and] one more way to help with heat relief.”
The effort was backed by an enthusiastic response from employees, many of whom donated time, energy, and carloads of bottled water.
Mercy Care leads water drive for valley heat relief:
“The energy has just been snowballing,” said DeMario Vaughn, community relations manager. “Our colleagues and friends are donating in person and online. It’s exciting to be doing something that supports our community in such a direct way.”
The collected water was distributed through a partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank, which supplies hydration to shelters, soup kitchens, and tribal communities.
“Last year, from June to August, St. Mary’s handed out over a million bottles of water,” Stewart said. “We’re proud to be part of helping meet that need.”
For Mercy Care’s leadership and staff, the drive wasn’t just about bottles. It was about values.
“To be able to give back to a community that I love and grew up in … there’s no better feeling,” Vaughn added.
