Behind Philadelphia's Busiest Summer: A Partnership Built on Service
When extreme heat and historic crowds put a strain on our city’s resources, The Salvation Army is on the front lines.
Your generosity ensures that our emergency teams have the resources, food, and hydration needed to protect those who protect us.
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This summer, Philadelphia welcomed the world.
From FIFA matches and fan festivals to the city’s historic Fourth of July celebrations and Major League Baseball festivities, hundreds of thousands of visitors gathered across the region. But behind the excitement, police officers, firefighters, and emergency workers faced a grueling challenge: working long shifts in suffocating heat, with temperatures climbing into the high 90s and heat indexes soaring to 105 degrees.
While the public enjoyed the celebrations, they didn't see what was happening behind the scenes to keep the city safe. Quietly and steadily, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team worked alongside first responders. They provided the meals, hydration, and cooling supplies that kept them standing. This massive effort was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our community partners such as:
Herr’s, who donated 14,000 bags of chips.
Primo Produce and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM), who together contributed 21 pallets of bottled water.
The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), who provided hot meals, fresh fruit, snacks, and ice.
A 15-Year Partnership Put to the Test
For Roosevelt Poplar, President of FOP Lodge #5, this summer's massive coordination was the culmination of a deeply trusted relationship.
"Our partnership with The Salvation Army started close to 16 years ago," Poplar said. "We've had a great working relationship. Any time we needed them for a major event or catastrophe, it was just a matter of picking up the phone. This summer, they showed up on our biggest stage."
As major events got underway, EDS mobilized a network of support.
Teams deployed mobile canteens across the city, bringing in emergency equipment and volunteers from across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and New England.
By mid-summer, your donor support enabled our teams to deliver:
7,200+ hot, nutritious meals to keep personnel fueled.
17,500+ cold beverages and sports drinks to prevent dehydration.
23,600+ snacks distributed directly on the front lines.
1,400+ volunteer hours dedicated to serving our community's protectors.
"Honestly, a Lifesaver" — Meeting the Moment in 100-Degree Heat
The true test came over the Fourth of July weekend. As thousands of officers prepared for extended outdoor shifts, a dangerous heatwave settled over the city. EDS leaders met directly with police command to ask a critical question: What do your officers need right now to survive this shift?
The answer went far beyond basic bottled water.
"We had to ramp up our efforts instantly," said Erik Johnson, Director of EDS for Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. “Thanks to the immediate availability of emergency funds provided by our donors and The Salvation Army’s Territorial Headquarters out of West Nyack, NY, we didn't have to wait. We ordered electrolyte packets, purchased heavy-duty misting fans, and rushed to buy hundreds of specialized cooling towels."
The impact of those quick actions was felt immediately on the scorching asphalt.
"If you know how much a nice cold, ice-water towel means to these officers when they're out there in 100-degree weather," said Poplar. The water, the Gatorade, the Liquid I.V. ... they have honestly been a lifesaver for us. That's not an exaggeration. That's me personally, professionally, getting it straight from my members.”
How Your Donation Fuels This Mission
Most people attending Philadelphia's major summer events never saw the volunteers preparing meals before sunrise, restocking mobile canteens, or hand-delivering cold towels to exhausted officers.
Yet, those quiet acts of service—funded entirely by donors like you—kept our first responders focused on keeping the public safe.
"We wouldn't have been able to do half of what we did without the generosity of our community," Johnson noted.
The heat of summer will fade, but the need to stay ready for fires, natural disasters, and local emergencies never stops.
When you give to The Salvation Army, you are directly putting fuel in our canteens, food on the grill, and life-saving hydration in the hands of someone in crisis.
Will you help us stand ready for the next call?
Donate: Your financial gift directly funds disaster relief and emergency readiness. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
Volunteer: Give your time to help us serve on the ground. Call (215) 825-4631 to join our emergency response team.