Niagara Bottling LLC, the largest family-owned bottled water company in the United States, today donated 74,000 bottles of water to the city of Phoenix. With this donation, presented by Brian Hess, director of operations for Niagara Bottling, the total amount of bottled water donated to Phoenix to date has reached more than 186,000, well above the 133,000 bottles of water collected during all of last summer.

“This generous donation will help us help the homeless stay hydrated, stay healthy and stay alive during these hot summer months,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “We need to continue to reach out throughout the summer to those who are particularly vulnerable in our community and keep a special eye on the very young and the elderly.”

Niagara Bottling is one of the largest charitable contributors to natural disasters in the United States. They assisted with the Florida hurricanes, Hurricane Katrina and last year’s California wildfires. The donated water was transported from Ontario, Calif., in two semi-trucks by Lexmar Distribution Inc., which donated the freight cost for shipping the water.

The city also is asking people to donate the following items that will be distributed to the homeless: unopened water bottles, sunscreen, new underwear, white socks, white T-shirts and pre-packaged snack items such as individually wrapped cookies and crackers. Cash or check donations to supplement the donated items also are welcome. Tax-deductible donations may be delivered to the city's four Family Services Centers: Travis L. Williams, 4732 S. Central Ave., 602-534-4732; John F. Long, 3454 N. 51st Ave., 602-262-6510; Central Phoenix, 1250 S. Seventh Ave., 602-534-1250; and Sunnyslope, 914 W. Hatcher Road, 602-495-5229. The centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more information, call 602-262-4520 or visit phoenix.gov.