You arrive.
A parking lot. A pop-up canopy. A table with water stacked in cases. You check in, get your badge, and walk through the setup with someone who has done this before. Then you get to your station.
Volunteer
Show Up
When It Matters.
When temperatures hit 115 degrees, we hand out free water at Heat Relief Network sites and community events across Phoenix. Every shift starts with shade, water for you, and everything you need.
What It's Like
A Shift
With Hydrate PHX.
You set up.
Cases come off the pallet. Water goes into the cooler. Ice on top. The table goes under the shade structure. You have water for yourself before the first person walks up.
Someone walks up.
They might be walking home from the bus stop. They might be on a break from work. They might be a family at the park. You hand them water. They nod. That is the whole thing.
You go home.
Two to four hours. One shift. No all-day commitment. You showed up when it mattered and someone had water because of it.
Your Safety
We Follow the Experts.
OSHA and the CDC are clear about what keeps people safe in extreme heat: water, rest, shade, acclimatization, and training. We follow those protocols for every volunteer at every event.
Water
Cool water available at your station at all times. You drink on schedule — one cup every 15 to 20 minutes — not when you feel thirsty. Thirst is not a reliable signal. For shifts over two hours, we provide electrolyte drinks as well.
Source: OSHA/NIOSHRest
Mandatory rest breaks in a cooled or shaded area. The length and frequency depend on the heat. You do not skip breaks, even if you feel fine. If you feel any symptoms — dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion — you stop immediately.
Source: OSHA/NIOSHShade
Pop-up canopy at every station. You are never standing in direct sun for your entire shift. If indoor space is available nearby, you have access to it during breaks.
Source: OSHA/CDCTraining
Before your first shift, complete MCDPH's free "Recognizing and Acting on Heat-Related Illness" training — 15 minutes, self-paced, online. You learn to recognize the signs of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke in yourself and in the people around you. We also recommend downloading the free OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app (available in English and Spanish) for real-time heat index monitoring at your location.
The buddy system
No one works alone. You have someone nearby who knows to watch for symptoms you might not notice yourself. If something feels wrong, you tell someone. No one gets in trouble for stopping.
Our volunteer safety protocols follow guidance from OSHA, NIOSH, the CDC, and Arizona ADOSH.
Official heat safety resources
Before your first event, we ask you to sign a volunteer waiver and media release — a board-adopted policy that protects you and the organization. We also ask for closed-toe shoes and sun protection. We send everything you need when you sign up.
What You'll Do
Three Roles. All Critical.
Distribute Water
Hand out free water at events, cooling centers, bus stops, and heat relief sites. You are the last step between production and the person who needs it.
Setup & Logistics
Help load, transport, and set up distribution points before events. Organize water inventory, coordinate with site partners, and help track distribution counts so we can report exactly where every unit of water went.
Community Outreach
Connect with community members at events. Share information about heat safety, cooling center locations, and how Hydrate PHX works.
Open Volunteer Shifts
Be There.
Other Ways
Not Available to Volunteer?
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