Disaster Relief & Assistance

Disaster Relief
& Assistance

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There When It Matters®

When it comes to natural or human-made disasters, Greater Good Charities is There When It Matters®. Whether working with communities to prepare or helping victims of hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, or floods, we provide on-the-ground assistance and fund partners to maximize impact and relief for the affected people and pets, wildlife sanctuaries, and more

With your support, we mobilize in response to need.

$90 MM+
in Disaster Relief Support
26
Countries Supported
5.2 MM+
People and Pets Directly Helped
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Greater Good Charities is proud to meet the 17 goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. Learn more about each goal and how programs like Disaster Relief is transforming the world.

Current disaster response
Helene Damage

Hurricanes Helene & Milton

Hurricane Helene was the second deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. and has left a trail of devastation across the southeastern states. Just days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a category 3 hurricane in Florida, hitting an already struggling Gulf coast with tornados, extreme flooding, and winds — with leftover debris from Helene creating dangerous projectiles. We need your help to bring aid to communities devastated by these hurricanes. 

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Upper Midwest Flooding

Days of unprecedented rainfall have pushed rivers to record levels across northwest Iowa and neighboring states. Now, South Dakota and Minnesota residents face similar dire circumstances. Some towns inundated with flooding have turned off power, prompting water safety concerns, sewage issues, and the impact of no electricity amidst sweltering temperatures.  
We need your help to respond quickly to the needs across this region. 

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New Mexico Wildfires

More than 8,000 residents in New Mexico have been forced to evacuate due to wildfires, many leaving behind pets in the chaos. Hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost. Our team is on the ground distributing Good Packs with survival and comfort items and pet food to help hundreds of displaced families and animals. Donate now to rush urgent aid and help victims of wildfires and extreme heat.

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Ukraine Crisis

On February 24, Russia started a war on neighboring Ukraine, invading the country on several fronts. The United Nations estimates that over 13 million Ukrainians, many with pets, have fled since the attack began, with that number expected to continue to rise. The journey is daunting, with many Ukrainian families and their pets traveling for days without food. They need help now.

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Maui Wildfires

The fires, spurred on by Hurricane Dora,  engulfed the island of Maui, causing mass panic, the loss of power to thousands of homes and businesses, and wide-ranging destruction across the island. Greater Good Charities is committed to providing relief to victims but we need your help.

DONATE TO HELP THOSE IN HARM’S WAY

Your donation allows Greater Good Charities to prepare and respond quickly when disaster strikes.

By giving today, you are a hero for people and pet disaster victims, easing suffering and helping communities and shelters rebuild.

Donate monthly to become a First Responder, our community of donors who know that preparation is essential to disaster response.

HOW we respond

Greater Good Charities approaches disaster response in three complementary ways.

Think ahead and prepare communities for imminent natural disasters, respond during disasters by helping on the ground with supplies and relief work, and boost recovery by directly aiding people and pets and helping to rebuild infrastructure.

We directly support those in need during disasters and work alongside local human services and animal welfare agencies.

Greater Good Charities anticipates annual natural disasters like summer wildfires, hurricane season, and flooding. We build disaster caches of commonly needed human and pet supplies and food in these disaster-prone areas ahead of need so that materials are available immediately in weather, road, or other conditions that may delay or hinder aid. This allows relief to come within days rather than weeks.

We work to help affected communities with specific disaster relief activities, including: 

  • Delivering food and supplies to people and pets.
  • Supporting food banks and animal shelters.
  • Rebuilding damaged shelters.
  • Transporting shelter pets and wildlife to safety.
  • Feeding bees vital to agricultural systems.
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See our Impact
Winter Storm - 1
Read More: GREATER GOOD CHARITIES: PREPARED FOR DISASTER WHEN WINTER STORMS STRIKE

Winter storms are raging across the country this weekend, putting vulnerable communities at risk of widespread power outages, heat loss, and lack of access to food and shelter. These storms are intense and unpredictable, unleashing heavy snow and blizzards, widespread winds, rain, tornados, and flooding. See how Greater Good Charities is There When It Matters®.

Read More: SURVIVING THE WINTER: HOW YOU’RE HELPING UKRAINIANS IN CRISIS

As the war in Ukraine rages on, there are more than 4.5 million Ukrainians living in affected areas without basic necessities like food. These families are tired, hungry, and facing the harsh wind and frigid temperatures for what is likely to be the toughest winter for many Ukrainians. 

This is why Greater Good Charities developed meal kits - to help families stay full and healthy in times of crisis. Each box contains ingredients like pasta, dry beans, and oil to make up to 78 meals! With these kits, we also distributed heavy locally-sourced blankets. These are vital for the families remaining in Ukraine, as winter in Ukraine is snowy and cold, with temperatures reaching well below freezing.

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Read More: AS SEEN ON CNN: GREATER GOOD CHARITIES DOING GOOD FOR THE BEES

We are un-BEE-lievably thankful to CNN for highlighting our ongoing work to feed the hundreds of honeybee colonies devastated by Hurricane Ian!

When Hurricane Ian struck Florida in September of 2022, it left an ecological disaster in its wake. Not only did the damage decimate homes, communities, and businesses, but it also wreaked havoc on our nation's food supply.  One out of every three bites of food in the United States depends on honeybees and other pollinators.  (USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service). 

More About Our Impact
Read more about what we've done to support people, pets, and the planet in times of disaster by checking out our blog.