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September 15, 2010

Survivors come in all shapes and sizes, and from all across the globe. As we have seen throughout the past year, many of these survivors are children or families who were already living in poverty before disaster struck and took what little they had.

Luckily, there are charities devoted to relieving global disaster and helping those in need survive and thrive. From children living in the US without access to school supplies, to families in Niger facing extreme famine, these ten charities are dedicated to providing support for poverty, hunger, disaster relief and education.

Their humanitarian support takes them where the need is greatest -- but they need funding to help keep up with growing problems facing our globe.

1. American Red Cross
   When the gas pipes exploded last Thursday in San Bruno, a suburb of San Francisco, one of the first organizations on the ground ready to assist the shocked residents was the American Red Cross. The non-governmental organization relied on volunteers to help place victims of the catastrophe in hotel rooms and temporary shelters. The volunteers distributed snacks, drinks and clean up kits to the residents affected by the devastation that destroyed nearly 50 homes. The Red Cross is a national organization which is calling for volunteers to help with distribution and disaster relief all over the US. Find your local Red Cross chapter and become a volunteer. Red Cross also needs people to donate blood and to give money or goods to the organization.

2. UNICEF
   Supporting over 150 countries, UNICEF focuses on humanitarian relief for children by providing health care, clean water, nutrition, education and emergency relief. Since late July, when monsoon rains flooded Pakistan and Asia with a record breaking amount of water, UNICEF has tirelessly been a source of hope for the children in the area. With over 20 million people affected by the relentless flood waters, UNICEF is supplying clean drinking water for nearly 2 million flood victims and is vaccinating children against polio and measles in the affected areas. In addition, the organization is building up to 200 temporary learning centers that will help educate some 20,000 children displaced by the powerful flood waters. You can support UNICEF in their effort to keep the children affected by the flood in good care with a donation.

3. Americorps
   With a total of 62.4 million hours served, Americorps offers about 75,000 opportunities (and rising) annually for young adults of all ages and backgrounds who want to make a difference in communities across the United States. There are also opportunities for retirees. These volunteers work alongside local and national non-profit organizations by tutoring disadvantaged youth, fighting illiteracy, improving health services, building affordable housing, and providing disaster response. There are currently opportunities to help by donating time or money to an organization providing American's with crucial aid.

4. Doctors Without Borders
   Every year Niger is faced with a malnutrition crisis from May to September -- and in 2010, the situation in Niger has become dire. This year, more than 77,000 children have been treated for severe malnutrition at the 69 centers supported by Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières).
   The organization has also been distributing food supplements to more than 143,000 young children in Niger to help prevent malnutrition. MSF is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. You can provide financial support for this organization, and know that the majority of your donation will be used for their program services.
5. School on Wheels
   Each day, hundreds of volunteer tutors give hope, educational assistance, and support to thousands of homeless children in Southern California. Tutors go to homeless shelters or other community centers and meet with children on a regular basis. Every student receives a backpack, school supplies and uniforms. School on Wheels also gives parents assistance in enrolling their children in schools and locating and filing school records. You can support this charitable organization with your time as a volunteer, a donation or by running in the Annual 5k Fun Walk/Run.

6. World Food Programme
   In the wake of the floods that filled much of Pakistan, WFP has reached over 3 million people with life-saving rations and has set it's sights on supporting 6 million in September. At every moment, an estimated 600 WFP trucks are driving throughout the country of Pakistan delivering food and assistance to those in need. The organization which is part of the United Nations and voluntarily funded is providing seed kits to help people in Pakistan start a farm plot that can feed their family and produce a little extra for sale. The world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, the WFP gets food to where it's needed most -- whether those in need are affected by war, disaster, or poverty.
   After the cause of an emergency has passed, food is used to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. You can help the people of Pakistan by donating through the WFP.

7. Save the Children
   In the wake of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, Save the Children, which creates lasting change for children around the world, asks those who have the means to sponsor a child. Your donation as part of the Haiti Hope Child program will go to the community of children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and help lift up their hopes by supporting existing emergency response programs. All donations from you are combined together to build strong programs that can change the lives of the community of children in Haiti.

8. Refugees International
   This global program advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for dispersed people, and promotes solutions to large scale displacement crises. Currently the organization works to prevent violence as a Somalian referendum may ignite civil war, helps stateless people in Kuwait find equitable work, and provides safety for people in Kyrgyzstan. To further this organization's efforts, you may donate money or stocks.

9. Valley Churches United & others
   In central California, some organizations are working hard to provide underprivileged students with school supplies. Valley Churches United in Santa Cruz has provided more than 300 children with school supplies this year. Santa Cruz Office of Education's Annual Write-Start Backpack Project has given 1,000 low-income students backpacks stuffed with school supplies. However, the city estimates that nearly 4,000 more students are in need or else their education will suffer. You can drop off school supplies at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. The office is requesting Santa Cruz bus passes, large backpacks, pens, pencils and erasers.

10. Direct Relief International and USA
    Direct Relief provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for those in poverty, disaster and civil unrest. Recently, the organization has provided over $50 million in long term relief to its partners working to help people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. To meet urgent health needs in Pakistan as a result of the destructive flooding, Direct Relief has dedicated $190,000 in medical aid to those people. Recently as a partner to CVS Caremark, Direct Relief has provided 85 million flu vaccines. You are called to donate money, stocks, or medical products. You are also offered the opportunity to launch your own fundraising campaign.

For more information on Survivorship Causes that TheSurvivorsClub.org supports, click here.

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