Middle school and high school students around the country are now able to support the work of Direct Relief by forming local chapters of Youth 4 Direct Relief using the new Student Handbook and Club Advisor Handbook available online.

More than six years ago, a group of local high school and middle school students came together out of a desire to help people in need around the world by raising funds and awareness for Direct Relief. Their focus was maternal and child health and their goal was to raise money to support safe births around the world. Since they began, the students have raised nearly $180,000.

The Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs prove that no matter your age, you can make a difference. Over time, this network of Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs has expanded to every high school and most of the middle schools in the Santa Barbara area where Direct Relief is headquartered. They annually hold a flower sale during the month of April with all the proceeds going to Direct Relief.

This fall, Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs have been encouraged to focus their fundraising on Direct Relief’s Ebola relief work. To date, Direct Relief has sent over $6 million in medical supplies to West Africa, and more will be headed to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, over the next few months.