In anticipation of high Arizona summer temperatures, The Salvation Army Tucson is rolling out its Operation Chill Out — offering unhoused individuals resources and places of refuge from the heat. For PR and Community Engagement Manager Kelli Beasley, the initiative represents the nonprofit organization’s desire to help those in need however it can.
“I’m from Florida, and it was hot there — but here when I see somebody that’s out on the street, it’s 110 degrees and they have a dog sitting next to them, your heart breaks,” Beasley said. “We have to get as many people inside our shelter as we can, as well as helping the people in all of the various parks.”
Operation Chill Out is part of a two-pronged approach to assisting the unhoused population of Tucson this summer. Firstly, from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m. on days where the temperatures are expected to reach 102 degrees, Salvation Army personnel will use a canteen truck to visit various parks in the city of Tucson and distribute cold water, healthy snacks, hygiene supplies and other heat-relief items to people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the Salvation Army Hospitality House shelter will serve as a Cooling Center — offering a shower, change of clothes, meal and cot to rest on for up to 35 people each day. The cooling center will also support pet needs with food, protective booties and other items.
As the summers in Arizona intensify, Beasley said, the need for heat relief resources increases and the respite the nonprofit organization offers through its own programs grows in importance, as well.
“The heat here in Tucson is so extreme that to us, Operation Chill Out and the Cooling Center protect lives,” she said. “It protects lives, offers them hope and reminds people they are not forgotten.”
To help support the efforts, Beasley said that the organization is accepting donations of various snacks and refreshments:
bottled water
individual packets of electrolyte powder
protein, cereal, or granola bars
beef or turkey jerky
fruit or applesauce cups
peanuts, cashews, or almonds
peanut butter or cheese cracker packets
rice krispie treats or packaged cookies
White T-shirts, sunglasses, lip balm and other heat-relief items the community can think of, Beasley said, will also be accepted and distributed. Interested parties can donate items at the Hospitality House shelter Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monetary donations are also accepted at salvationarmytucson.org — where the community engagement manager said patrons can specify that they would like their contributions to go specifically to Operation Chill Out efforts.
Operation Chill Out is an annual initiative the Salvation Army has undertaken for many years, Beasley said. During the 2025 Operation Chill Out outreach program, the nonprofit served 1,726 people experiencing homelessness while distributing 3,181 bottled waters and 816 snacks throughout Tucson. Separately, the Salvation Army’s Cooling Center served 628 individuals, providing 7,576 meals, 9,581 snacks, 3,384 material goods and 32,960 bottled waters.
As The Salvation Army prepares to assist Tucson residents experiencing homelessness through the summer months, Beasley said she hopes the Hospitality House can serve as “a safe place for hope and healing.” While the organization provides immediate relief from the heat, she said its larger mission is helping people eventually transition into stable housing and long-term support programs.
“Everybody is down on their luck at some point in their lives,” Beasley said. “If they can go through the programs and get on the other side, we want to help them with that.”
