Vernon-Monashee MLA, Harwinder Sandhu, loading up her vehicle with water to hand out to the public (photo courtesy of Harwinder Sandhu / Twitter)

By Liam Verster

Free H2O

Vernon-Monashee MLA hands out water during heat wave

Jul 29, 2022 | 5:15 PM

The local MLA has been travelling around the area handing out water and sports drinks during this past week’s heat wave.

Vernon Monashee MLA, Harwinder Sandhu, told Vernon Matters that she tries to keep a cooler fully stocked with bottled water and other drinks in her car during hot summer days.

“I go drive around town to various areas and the stop and offer people bottles of water and vitamin water,” said Sandhu.

“I go and drive in between my meetings and after my office [hours] and whenever I can.”

Sandhu, who is a nurse, told Vernon Matters she was handing out the drinks on July 28, and during that time she handed out “a couple cases worth of water and one case of vitamin water.” She also had two cases of water which she planned to give away to visitors or to people around town after finishing up her work Friday.

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Sandhu said she tries to go to areas where the more vulnerable people congregate.

However, she also said she doesn’t focus on any one group of people, saying she will go to parks and hand out drinks to seniors and families as well.

The rookie MLA said she will continue to drive around, handing out beverages and keeping people hydrated over the long weekend.

“I’ll have with me water whenever I go around, and I’ll definitely be doing it again over the weekend,” Sandhu told Vernon Matters, adding that she doesn’t have a set time for when she will get out, though she did say she will try to target the hottest parts of the day.

“So around lunch and then around 2 or 3 [o’clock], and then on the weekend I will have more flexibility.”

Sandhu said she’s been driving around handing out water for the past several years, even before she started her career in politics.

“Often time, we get too carried away with life and forget that just a simple bottle of water, how much it’s appreciated and I think that it saves lives too.”

Sandhu also noted that the heat wave has not passed yet, and reminds people to stay hydrated and take steps to prevent heat-related illness.