Brown Bag Coalition trains volunteers on extreme heat water runs 

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Brown Bag Coalition is a non-profit organization that helps give back to the homeless in the community.  

Maribel Padilla is the co-founder of Brown Bag Coalition and is planning on retiring from active water runs but would like to have the new generation of volunteers take over. 

These water runs consist of Padilla driving through the streets of downtown Calexico where homeless encampments are during high temperatures of 113-degree weather.    

Padilla teaches her volunteers on the routes and locations where the homeless are located and provides ice-cold water, ice-cold towels, mandarins, and granola bars to the homeless in bags. 

Once Padilla is out from work, she loads up her minivan with coolers filled with water and snacks to start her water run at around 5 o’clock.   

“If anything God forbid anything happened to my kids and they end up in the streets I would want someone to offer them a bottle of water a sandwich something, so the way I am seeing this is me working to pay it forward so if anything it will come back to help my kids,” said Padilla. 

During these high temperatures, Padilla wants to make sure that those living in the street are staying hydrated and fed during these dangerous heat conditions.   

Unfortunately for some living out in the street, their life is cut short due to dehydration.  

“There's so much we have to do for these people this is just like a first step I would say so it's kinda like the band-aid situation I really wish that we could go out there and do much more, even this I hope it betters someone's day,” said Volunteer Monique Ureña. 

Brown Bag Coalition is currently accepting donations such as water, Gatorade, ice pops, snacks, mandarins, or oranges.

Monetary donations are also welcomed and can be dropped off at 425 Broadway Avenue in El Centro.

For volunteer work go to their Facebook Page and leave a direct message.