Las Cruces shelter asking for donations to help the homeless in the heat

With the temps reaching the triple digits many are feeling the effects.
Those living on the streets are not an exception.

Now a Las Cruces homeless shelter is asking for help from the community.

“Well the elements over here in Las Cruces especially in June have been harsh on a lot of people. This isn’t even the worst,” said Dan Boyle.

Boyle has been homeless for six years. He knows about the harsh summer months.
“102, 105, 108 degrees,” said Boyle

Boyle also knows this is just the beginning of unbearable days.

“July and August can get bad,” said Boyle.

Boyle is just one of the 50 or so homeless people living in tent city.

The makeshift neighborhood is across the street from the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope.

The center provides help for the less fortunate.

“A lot of the homeless don’t have access to transportation as some that are housed and so a lot of times they are walking from place to place,” said Executive Director Nichole Martinez.

Martinez told ABC-7 how the homeless can fall victim to the intense heat.
“They have longer exposures to sun, a higher risk for skin cancer and dehydration,” said Martinez.

Now the shelter is asking for help from the community.

Donations that could help the homeless beat the heat.

“We are asking for donations that will help them do that: sunblock, water, tents, fruit, ice,” said Martinez.

Boyle said it’s the simple things many people might take for granted.
“A hat, sunglasses, short-sleeve shirt. Every donation helps, anything is better than nothing,” said Boyle.