At 13 years old, Alfredo de la Cruz, had never been to the dentist until Saturday. Alfredo and dozens of other children from Santa Maria, Calif. received free dental care this weekend as part of the Healthy Smiles program, coordinated by Direct Relief in collaboration with a number of other Santa Barbara County organizations supporting the effort. “I’ve seen a
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More than 30 students from Cate School in Carpinteria, Calif. organized hundreds of Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) packs yesterday at our warehouse as part of their annual Public Service Day. Students filled 500 rugged, specially designed backpacks with emergency medical supplies and equipment to meet a variety of prevalent disaster-related health needs such as infection control, trauma care, diagnostics and personal
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In what is being reported by public health officials as the worst flu season in the past decade, Direct Relief USA has distributed nearly 200,000 doses of flu vaccine to 265 nonprofit health centers and clinics in 38 states and is working to expand support as the flu season rages on. Direct Relief USA is the nation’s largest nonprofit charitable
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This morning about 100 volunteers came to Direct Relief International’s warehouse to assemble 3,000 Personal Care Packs for local people in need. Direct Relief’s Personal Care Packs contain basic hygiene items like lotion, soap, shampoo, facial cleanser, hairbrushes, combs, tooth brushes, tooth paste, dental hygiene items, basic first aid supplies and other assorted toiletries. Volunteers of all ages helped pack
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While actively responding to disasters elsewhere, Direct Relief prepared for disasters closer to home this week by participating in the 2012 Statewide Medical and Health Training and Exercise program with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and local hospitals and clinics. Simulating a large earthquake in the Santa Barbara area, Direct Relief responded to resource requests for medical supplies and shelter supplies. As part of the
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Direct Relief was on the ground, responding to urgent requests for nutritional and medical supplies in Newark, New Jersey shortly after the area witnessed devastation from Hurricane Sandy. Flooding, power outages, transportation disruptions, fuel shortages, and cold temperatures played havoc with the health and well-being of large numbers of people from all walks of life. Newark Community Health Centers, Inc (NCHC), one of Direct
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