THE NETWORK IS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS – INCLUDING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR – BEFORE, AFTER, AND IN-BETWEEN EMERGENCIES.
NEW ORLEANS, JULY 12, 2023—In advance of the peak of hurricane season, CARE USA today announced the launch of its CARE Partner Network, a new US disaster relief partnership between the humanitarian non-profit and several grassroots organizations led by women and/or BIPOC. The goal of this new program is to better reach and serve vulnerable communities affected by emergencies, like severe weather events.
In the United States, as in so many other countries around the world where CARE works, humanitarian relief often ignores or is unable to reach the most vulnerable residents, who often include women, children, and people of color. Grassroots organizations, who know their own communities well, are best positioned to deliver aid to their neighbors when emergencies strike.
Amir Farokhi, Executive Director of CARE’s US Programs, noted that a significant amount of aid and resources after an emergency does not reach those who need it most – either because residents cannot physically reach distribution centers, or because they do not know how to access available resources – including critically-needed cash assistance.
“The CARE Partner Network is designed to build the capacity of women- and/or BIPOC-led local organizations before, after, and in-between emergencies to provide relief, specifically cash assistance, to their local communities,” said Farokhi.
“The CARE Partner Network model directs funds through our local partners to reach those in need, while also enabling our partners to increase their reach by temporarily bringing on additional staff to meet a rapid surge in demand on short notice,” he added.
The Network will initially consist of a group of local organizations based in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico.
CARE Partner Network partners include:
- Feeding Tampa Bay
- The Hope Partnership (Florida)
- Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico
- Paz Para Las Mujeres (Puerto Rico)
- The St. Bernard Project (Louisiana)
- The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (Louisiana)
- One Voice (Mississippi)
- The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi
- Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
- The Houston Foodbank
- Bethel’s Heavenly Hands (Texas)
- Charleston Promise
Speaking to partners at a recent launch event in New Orleans, Michelle Nunn, CARE USA, President and CEO, welcomed the new Network members and reiterated the critical role that grassroots women- and/or BIPOC-led organizations have in humanitarian relief.
“CARE’s commitment to addressing gender and racial inequalities in the US is uniquely based upon a grassroots partnership approach. This is why I’m so privileged to welcome our CARE Partner Network partners,” said Nunn.
“Our local partners – most of whom are small and women- and/or BIPOC-led – know who is most vulnerable because you work with them every day. In an emergency, you know which communities and individuals need cash and food assistance. So, with CARE’s resources and your expertise, we can ensure women and families, especially those of color, are not overlooked in emergency response and recovery,” she added.
ABOUT CARE:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2022, CARE worked in over 110 countries, reaching more than 170 million people through 1,600 projects. To learn more, visit www.care.org.