July: From the Desk of Stephanie Boyer, CEO of reStart

Heat & Hunger: A Deadly Combination 

 

At reStart, our teams are on the front lines of this crisis. We are doing everything possible to provide lifesaving relief: cool shelters, clean water, nourishing meals, and compassionate care. But the need is growing faster than our resources, and we cannot face this alone.

 

Let me be clear: access to air conditioning, drinking water, and food is not a luxury. It’s survival. 

For someone living in a car or tent, a sunburn isn’t just painful; it can become infected, or worse. Dehydration leads to confusion, collapse, or death. And hunger strips the body of its ability to fight back. Every day, we meet people suffering from heat stroke, malnutrition, and isolation. These are our neighbors. And they urgently need us. 

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Inside our shelter, we fight this crisis with dignity. Our Chef Derrick leads with love and nourishment, serving meals that mirror the comfort of home: fried fish, hushpuppies, green beans, and rice. "We serve the same kind of food you guys have at home,” Chef D explained to a group of 6th-grade volunteers last week. The young volunteers lit up when they saw the warm chocolate chip cookies being served for dessert. Sharing the dessert with our residents helped them realize we’re not so different from one another.  

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Our new Chief Operating Officer, Jen Manthey, is already amplifying our impact. “People are dangerously dehydrated,” she said. “We are looking into ways to offer more fresh produce. It’s all hands on deck.” 

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We are not powerless in the face of this crisis. Your actions today can save a life. 

Please don’t wait. Together, let’s ensure that no one is left to suffer or die in the heat.  

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With urgency and gratitude,  
Stephanie Boyer 
CEO, reStart, Inc.