With summer in full swing, residents across the Crossroads have cranked up their air conditioners and spending as much time as possible inside the chilly inner sanctum of their homes and offices to escape the oppressive heat.

But some people are not so fortunate. Some people are too poor to own an air conditioning unit. And many homeless people are forced to endure the rising temperatures simply because they have no place to go.

That is why we are glad to see the Victoria Salvation Army cooling station open for another year. This station gives homeless people and residents without the resources to keep cool a place to go during the scorching heat of summer. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 1306 N. Louis St.

But while this is an important service the Salvation Army is offering, it is an effort that requires support from the community to be successful. The station needs donations of bottled water, as well as individual snack items to meet the needs of those who choose to take shelter there.

In addition to these items, the center also needs volunteers to help run the station. According to Doc Bartlett, social services case worker, volunteers are needed to just spend some time with the people who come to the cooling station. They can play cards, talk or anything else to reach out to the people who need support.

Bartlett says the station has not seen a lot of traffic yet, as the extreme heat has not hit yet, but he expects usage to pick up as the temperatures rise.

He said there have been lots of donations so far, but the center will need more to make it through the season. One of their major donors has been the City of Victoria.

"The City of Victoria has done extremely well, as they usually do when we need assistance."

There have also been offers to volunteer. "The list is a little shorter than last year, but we can always use more," Bartlett said.

We applaud the people who have already stepped up to help this year. And we encourage other members of the community to give to fulfill this need. Whether it's bringing water, snacks or just an hour of your time, your efforts could help someone in our community beat the heat.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.