BOISE, Idaho — This summer, we've seen scorching hot temperatures, the Treasure Valley has had close to 20 days of triple digit heat, and that doesn't include all the days in the high nineties.
Add that to the thick smoke from area wildfires, and you could say the summer of 2024 has had an impact on all of us.
Jennifer Jordan has been spending much of her summer near Rhodes Skate Park.
It's hard to imagine being without a place to live in these conditions. A Treasure Valley woman has made it her mission to deliver much needed relief to those on the streets, delivering cold water, ice, fruit and popsicles to the unhoused in downtown Boise.
"I've been doing this for three weeks, it started when I saw that we were going to be having triple digits for days on end. And I decided to do it every day until I run out of money," Jordan said."The hottest it's been when I've been out here is 108."
She is passionate about helping people without a place to live survive this scorching hot summer. It all started with a post on social media.
"I first was asking for donations for ice, water and popsicles because I felt like that would be the best place to start," Jordan said. "For the first week, there was a tremendous response, people were trying to get my number and dropping things off at my house, asking if they could come out with me. So, the oranges and the apples that come in, I cut them up and freeze them. The money has purchased the ice, I call it the ice fund because ice is not cheap. The other money that has come in that I haven't used for ice, I've purchased gatorade and electrolytes. A lot of the water has been donated."
Jordan said what she's been seeing on the streets keeps her coming back to help.
"I've seen people passed out on the sidewalk," she said. "I've seen people be thankful and grateful for the popsicles and the ice drinks that I've brought."
But, helping out has also been heartbreaking for her.
"I saw a man die, I saw a man fall asleep in the sun,' Jordan said. "The next day I came to visit him and the ambulance came to get his belongings and his body."
She said the reason she keeps going back is simple.
"Because, I love everybody," she said. "There is so many crazy things going on in the world, if people can hate without knowing you or knowing your religion or where you come from, I can love. I've had a lot of people ask me why I'm doing this, and saying these are just people on the streets and there are resources, well there is not. It starts with hydration, preventing illness, it starts there and hopefully other resources will see me out here and want to join forces to get people off the street."
Jordan said she will continue to help as long as the donations keep coming in.
"I will do this as long as the community keeps supporting me," she said. "Kindness is contagious."
To help Jordan and her mission, click here:
