CARE is founded when 22 American organizations came together to rush lifesaving CARE Packages to survivors of World War II. On May 11, 1946, the first 20,000 CARE Packages, containing items such as potted meats, sugar, powdered milk and eggs, coffee and margarine, arrive in Harve, France. Some 100 million more CARE Packages reached people in need during the first two decades, first in Europe and later in Asia and other parts of the world.
In the 1950s, CARE expanded into emerging nations and used U.S. surplus food to feed the hungry.
In the 1960s, we pioneered primary health care programs.
In the 1970s, CARE responded to massive famines in Africa with both emergency relief and long-term projects.
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty in more than 70 countries around the world. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.
Women are at the heart of our community-based efforts to improve basic education, assure access to quality health care and expand economic opportunity. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.