Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 570 shipments of requested medical aid to 47 U.S. states and territories and 14 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 13.4 million defined daily doses of medication.
Cancer Therapies Bound for Ghana
This week, Direct Relief shipped essential medicines, including cancer treatments, to Ghana to support Breast Care International, a nonprofit providing lifesaving treatment, education, and awareness programs for women facing breast cancer.
The shipment was made possible through Teva’s Breast Cancer Access Program — a partnership between Teva, Breast Care International, and Direct Relief — which ensures up to 400 women in Ghana each year can access essential cancer medicines. In a country where as many as 70% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, timely access to medication is often the difference between life and death.
In addition to cancer medicines, the delivery included treatments for heart conditions, infections, mental health, and general patient care — covering both essential and supportive therapies.
Direct Relief staff recently visited BCI in Ghana, further underscoring the importance of this long-standing partnership and the urgent need to expand access to care. Since 2014, Direct Relief has provided more than $100 million in medical support to BCI, working alongside Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai and her team to strengthen early detection, treatment, and cancer care nationwide.
Personal Care Kits Distributed at Pasadena Fire Recovery Fair
Earlier this week, Shared Harvest and DENA Forward distributed Direct Relief-donated personal care items at a Pasadena community fair for families affected by the Eaton Fire. The kits help families meet basic needs and safeguard their health as the community continues recovering from the fires earlier this year. In addition, the event provided residents with health screenings, educational resources, and other recovery services.
By working alongside partners like Shared Harvest and DENA, Direct Relief helps ensure communities have access to both immediate relief items and the broader support needed to recover and rebuild.
At the same time, Direct Relief hosted a volunteer packing event at its Santa Barbara headquarters, where volunteers assembled dental care kits for children to be distributed to local organizations across Santa Barbara County.
Restoring Access to Care: Grants Supporting Maui’s Recovery
Following the devastating Maui wildfires in 2023, Direct Relief partnered with Mauliola Pharmacy to ensure displaced residents maintained access to essential medicines and care. Direct Relief supported these emergency efforts with funding and shipments of requested medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment.
Beyond emergency response, Direct Relief has continued to support Mauliola Pharmacy’s sister organization, Nohona Health, which blends traditional Native Hawaiian healing with modern medicine. With grant funding, Nohona Health built a greenhouse to expand access to medicinal plants, strengthen cultural education, and create new opportunities for emotional and physical healing.
From urgent medication access to long-term community healing, Direct Relief’s partnerships in Maui reflect a broader commitment: supporting locally led recovery and resilience initiatives long after the immediate crisis has passed.
Ryan’s Bar Mitzvah Project Supports Communities Affected by Floods
Direct Relief’s mission to support people affected by disasters recently inspired 13-year-old Ryan to select the organization as the focus of his bar mitzvah project. Drawing from his Torah portion, the story of Noah and the flood, Ryan wanted to give back by supporting an organization that helps people impacted by flooding and other disasters.
To raise funds, Ryan organized a bake sale at his synagogue, preparing all the treats himself. His efforts raised $277, which he generously donated online to Direct Relief. His support comes at a critical time, as Direct Relief continues to respond to severe flooding events worldwide, including the recent floods in Texas, Bali, and Pakistan.
Contributions like Ryan’s help ensure that communities affected by disasters have access to the medical aid they need. Direct Relief is grateful for Ryan’s generosity — and for the many others who support its mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by emergencies.
Operational Snapshot
Around the World
YEAR-TO-DATE
Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 22.2K shipments to 2,515 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments contained 230.8 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.6 billion wholesale, totaling 3.2 million lbs.
