Brown Bag Coalition helps homeless battle the valley heat

Summer isn’t even over yet but the Imperial Valley has already surpassed last year’s number of heat-related deaths.

Homeless people are one of the groups that are most at risk when it comes to heat-related deaths.

“When it’s over a 110 degrees, high humidity like it’s been for last week, it’s misery out here,” said Michael Cole.

Cole has been homeless on and off for 20 years and every year summers are unbearable.

He’s grateful that organizations like the Brown Bag Coalition are making sure the homeless are fed and hydrated.

Cole said,”If it wasn’t for them, there’d be people out here starving. What they bring in liquids to hydrate us is unreal. And the donations that they need, thank God for those that do.”

Maribel Padilla, co-founder of the organization, said handing out water twice a week is the least they can do.

“But these people are out here everyday day and night. In the heat. In the elements. So it’s really, really important that we help them with at least a bottle of water, a Gatorade. And make it a little bit easier for them,” Padilla said.

While the Brown Bag Coalition feeds the homeless every night, one volunteer said it’s vital that everyone lends a helping hand.

Juan Ochoa, a volunteer and the son of Padilla, said, “When you’re passing out water and you empty one ice chest that you have and you can’t get more, and then you see more of them coming, out of nowhere. We really need to help them.”

While there’s no way of tracking how many homeless people die every summer to heat-related issues, the Imperial County Public health Department said they are the most at risk due to exposure to the heat and lack of resources.

Anyone who would like to help or donate to the Brown Bag Coalition can go to their Facebook page or call them at (760) 997-2140.