Albertsons Vons along with The Salvation Army launches HYDRATE LAS VEGAS Program.
Water. It’s an essential ingredient for life. In fact, according to Mayo Clinic, mayoclinic.org, the human body is made up of 50 to 70 percent water. Dehydration occurs when the human body uses or loses more fluid than it takes in.
If the body does not have enough fluid, it is unable to carry out its regular functions. This can become very serious and even cause life-threatening complications, such as seizures and hypovolemic shock, which causes a drop in blood pressure and oxygen.
That’s why every summer Las Vegans are reminded to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and help avoid heat-related illnesses. This summer’s heat alerts make it even more important to stay hydrated.
For many it’s an easy thing to do; grab a bottle of water and gulp it down while out running around; but for others it’s not as easy.
That’s why Albertsons Vons, in partnership with The Salvation Army, is trying to make a difference this summer. Together the organizations will launch their first HYDRATE LAS VEGAS water drive, which runs through July.
Throughout the month all Albertsons and Vons locations in Southern Nevada will provide an easy way for people to donate water to help those in need. Shoppers can pick up a case of water while shopping and drop it into the marked HYDRATE LAS VEGAS donation bin at the front of the store before leaving.
The Salvation Army Southern Nevada will visit stores throughout July and pick up all water donations and then distribute them at its main 5-acre campus in downtown Las Vegas on Owens Avenue, which serves about 250 people, daily.
The Salvation Army also operates street outreach teams that distribute water to known homeless camps in Henderson. The nonprofit group distributes about 1,000 cases of water each summer; and partners with the city to provide cooling stations that also provide water.
Major Harold Laubach Jr., divisional secretary for The Salvation Army Southern Nevada, recalled one recent Sunday he and his wife, Major Maggie Laubach, were on their way to church service when they saw someone unconscious on the sidewalk. They called 911. An ambulance came and the person was treated for dehydration. He says it’s happening all over the Valley.
The triple-digit heat hit Las Vegas early this year. Laubach said The Salvation Army’s supply of water was quickly depleted when temperatures started to skyrocket.
“The Salvation Army loves to partner with any organization that can help provide services for our communities,” Laubach said. “In this particular case, partnering with a company the size of Albertsons and Vons with so many locations around Southern Nevada — it just multiplies the blessing with the amount of people we can help.”
Michael Cefaloni is the district manager for Albertsons and Vons. He said the company is excited about its first water drive in Las Vegas. “It makes sense, especially with how hot it is, for us to join forces to help people in need.” Cefaloni says the company partners with The Salvation Army Southern Nevada throughout the year. “To be a partner with them is very special and it’s going to help the community out tremendously.”
He said it is important for the company, which is “passionate about fighting food insecurity” to partner with a group that “puts water in the hands of those who need it the most.”
Laubach said within 24 hours of donating a bottle of water it is in the hands of those his organization serves. He and his staff also use the simple gesture of giving a bottle of water to help start conversations with those in need to learn about other needs they may have.
The 500-bed shelter on Owens Avenue is the hub of the nonprofit organization. In addition to shelter, The Salvation Army also partners with organizations and programs to provide food, rental and utility assistance to our neighbors in need. They also offer programs for victims of human trafficking, the LGBTQ+ community, seniors and veterans.
“We want to say thank you to the community,” said Major Maggie Laubach. “The Salvation Army relies on partnerships like this one with Albertsons and Vons. It takes everyone working together to make a difference.”
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.