Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 575 shipments of requested medical aid to 47 U.S. states and territories and 15 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 8.9 million defined daily doses of medication.
Texas Flood Response Continues
Direct Relief staff have been traveling through Kerr County and other flood-impacted parts of central Texas this week to support first responders and health facilities. Flooding earlier this month killed at least 135 people and more than 100 people remain unaccounted for as recovery efforts continue.
Direct Relief has been supporting search and rescue groups, including TEXSAR and Equusearch, with emergency operating grants as well as field medic packs to equip responders with first aid essentials for triage care. Direct Relief staff met with both groups this week to discuss supporting ongoing needs and also met with the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, where Direct Relief delivered field medic packs that will be integrated into the fire department’s response vehicles.
Direct Relief staff also met with health organizations responding to flooded communities, including Fronteras Health Center, which has been providing mental health services to first responders. Direct Relief also met with La Esperanza Clinic in San Angelo, Texas, which has been providing mobile healthcare to the community.
Since July 4, Direct Relief has provided $2.6 million worth of medical aid across the state of Texas for ongoing health needs as well as emergency response. The organization will continue responding to recovery needs.
Community Health Fairs Reach Patients in Rural Puerto Rico
A community health fair in a mountainous area of Puerto Rico reached more than 70 patients with medical services last week.
On July 8, Direct Relief, in partnership with health center COSSAO, organized a community health fair in Utuado focused on expanding access to specialty care services. COSSAO, a nonprofit free clinic, has been delivering essential healthcare to underserved communities in Utuado, Ciales, and Jayuya for years.
Since 2017, Direct Relief has supported COSSAO through medication donations and cash grants, including funding for the expansion of its clinic infrastructure. This support has helped COSSAO grow its capacity to serve over 8,000 patients, offering services such as general medicine, pediatrics, and dentistry.
Volunteer physicians from RWJ Barnabas Health generously offered cardiology, pulmonology, and gynecology consultations free of charge. More than 120 services were provided to approximately 74 patients during the fair. Given the growing shortage of specialty care providers in Puerto Rico, events like this are vital for closing the gap in access—especially in remote and underserved regions like the central mountainous area.
As part of the fair, COSSAO’s team of health promoters identified homebound and bedridden individuals in the community. Dr. Pedro Juan “PJ” Vázquez, accompanied by a nurse and a psychology student, visited these patients in their homes. The team ensured both patients and their caregivers received personalized medical attention and emotional support.
In addition to these efforts, several partner organizations contributed to the fair. The Carlos Albizu University provided mental health services, while the Ponce Medical School Foundation coordinated for medical students to shadow the RWJ doctors, giving future physicians firsthand experience in community-based care delivery.
Operational Snapshot
Around the World
YEAR-TO-DATE
Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 16.1K shipments to 2,235 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 81 countries. These shipments included 146.8 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.2 billion wholesale, totaling 2.4 million lbs.
In the News
Metallica’s All Within My Hands Donates $100k to Texas Flood Victims – The Music Universe
The “Volcano of Fire” Threatens Maya Communities in Guatemala. Again. – Angels in Medicine
PAHO Mobilized to Respond to the Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti – El Pais
Associations Join Forces to Bring Mobile Health Clinics to Vulnerable Areas – Cuspide Mexico
