Arizona’s summer heat can be deadly. To help ready Tempe’s vulnerable populations, the city teamed up with students in McClintock High School’s Neighborhood Justice Program to create READI packs filled with supplies to help those in need stay safe.

“READI packs are kits that are going to be distributed to unhoused people around the community and include different heat relief supplies that will help them stay cool throughout the summer,” said Shalae Clemens, a McClintock High School student and Youth Climate Fellow with the Neighborhood Justice Program.

READI packs... include different heat relief supplies that will help them stay cool throughout the summer.”

-Shalae Clemens

Students with the program collaborated with the city’s Emergency Manager and HOPE homeless outreach team to find out what items would be needed, given the challenges faced in the extreme summer heat.

The READI (Resilience, Engagement, Action, Dedication and Inclusion) packs include a water bottle, towel, pet bowl and socks, among other items. The HOPE team will distribute the 600 packs to individuals experiencing homelessness during the July Point-in-Time homeless count, as well as at the city’s heat relief locations throughout the summer.

The Neighborhood Justice Program is a McClintock High School club where the students are given the opportunity to share their ideas about different climate justice projects they want to do in the community. The city then provides resources to facilitate those projects.

“It’s our way of giving the power to make the decisions about the future to the youth of Tempe,” said Timara Crichlow, a City of Tempe Youth Climate Council Specialist.
This effort was funded as part of the Cool Kids, Cool Place, Cool Futures grant the city received from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support Tempe youth in developing local and regional solutions for resilience to extreme heat.

“My generation is going to be the generation that has to deal with a lot of the effects of climate change,” Clemens said. “As young people, the other fellows and I have a unique perspective on climate and solutions. That’s why I’m passionate and think it’s important for high school students to get involved.”

My generation is going to be the generation that has to deal with a lot of the effects of climate change... That’s why I’m passionate and think it’s important.”
-Shalae Cleme

To volunteer for the July Point-in-Time homeless count, or learn more about the city’s efforts to end homelessness, please visit tempe.gov/EndingHomelessness.

To learn more about the innovative collaboration and find heat relief resources, please visit tempe.gov/HeatRelief.

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