Figure 1.-- CARE wa founded to assist the hungry in a prostrate Europe after World War II. As Europe began to recover, CARE begn to address other problems. One of their first major new effort was to assist the peple of Korea, devestated by the North Korean invasion (June 1950). The photograph is ndated. Here we think refugees are fleeing Seoul a second time as the North Korns backed by th Chinese advnced a second time, this time in the dead of winter (January 1951). The CARE donation appeal read, "Refugees flee Seoul: Victims of war's destruction. Rfugee men, women, and children wander throygh the street of Seoul, clinging to the bundles that contin the few posessions that they hve been ble to salvge. CARE food nd clothing textile packages cn be provided for destitute Korean refugees by sending cash contributiins in any mount to CARE for Korea, 20 Broad Street, New York 5, N.Y." Photo source: U.S. Army.

CARE began with shipments of food to war- torn Europe to prevent starvation and hunger. Seeing the privation througout Europe, 22 American charities (civic, religious, cooperative and labor organizations) founded the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE). They began to deliver millions of CARE packages all over Europe. These small packages with food and other relief supplies helped families survive midst vast food shortages. They had a huge impact on the lives of the recipients. CARE packages even helped people in former enemies, Germany and Japan. CARE did not cease to operate as Europe began to recover. Over the next three decades, CARE shifted its focus from helping Europeans to delivering assistance in the developing world. A major effort was made to help Koreans after the Communists invaded South Korea. As the developing world becme CARE's focus, the effort changes from just relief supplies and food distribution to a broad range of programs, including education, natural resources management, nutrition, water and sanitation, and healthcare in Africa, Asia and Latin America. CARE also began an effort to assist people hit affected by major emergencies, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, and other disasters. A major focus of CARE today is poverty. CARE was founded in 1945 when abjectly neeed people were the result of a lack of basic goods, services, and healthcare bcause of World War II. As Europe recovered, CARE noted the great beeds of people in the Third world. CARE officials began to junderstand that poverty and want is often caused by the denial of rights, opportunities and assets. The cause varies, but is a mixture of social exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination. CARE shifted to what we call a ‘rights based approach’ to development (early-1990s). Although Europe remained part of the groups name for decades, it even by the late-1950s was not the focus of operation. (Actually the acronmn was so widely used that few prople knew that the 'E' meant Europe. The organizers finally decided to change the meaning of its acronymn to 'Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere' (1993). CARE recently began a new effort to focusing on women’s empowerment (2007). This came from understanding from more than six decades of experience that women are the key to lifting entire families out of poverty.

World War II (1939-45)

CARE began with shipments of food to war-torn Europe to prevent starvation and hunger. Seeing the privation througout Europe, 22 American charities (civic, religious, cooperative and labor organizations) founded the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe -- CARE (1945). They began to deliver millions of CARE packages all over Europe. On May 11, 1946, relief arrived from across the ocean as the cargo ship American Traveler steamed into the harbor of war-torn Le Havre, France. The ship carried a shipment of food—and hope (May 11, 1946). Aboard were 15,000 brown cardboard boxes paid for by the Cooperative for by CARE. The goakl was to bring humanitarian aid to millions starving in post-war Europe. These first 'CARE Packages' contained everything from whole-milk powder and liver loaf to margarine and coffee. The contents of CARE Packages soon expanded to include soap, diapers, school supplies and medicine as well as fabric, thread and needles to allow recipients to make and mend clothes. These small packages with food and other relief supplies helped families survive midst vast food shortages. They had a huge impact on the lives of the recipients. CARE packages even helped people in former enemies, Austria and Germany. And despite the focus on Europe, CARE packages were also delivered to Japan.

Korean War (1950-53)

A major effort was made to help Koreans after the Communists invaded South Korea (1950).

Developing Countries

CARE did not cease to operate as Europe began to recover. Over the next three decades, CARE shifted its focus from helping Europeans to delivering assistance in the developing world. As the developing world becme CARE's focus, the effort changes from just relief supplies and food distribution to a broad range of programs, including education, natural resources management, nutrition, water and sanitation, and healthcare in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A major focus of CARE today is poverty. CARE was founded in 1945 when abjectly neeed people were the result of a lack of basic goods, services, and healthcare bcause of World War II. As Europe recovered, CARE noted the great needs of people in the Third world. CARE officials began to junderstand that poverty and want is often caused by the denial of rights, opportunities and assets. The cause varies, but is a mixture of social exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination. CARE shifted to what we call a ‘rights based approach’ to development--mening human rights (early-1990s). Although Europe remained part of the groups name for decades, it even by the late-1950s was not the focus of operation. (Actually the acronmn was so widely used that few prople knew that the 'E' meant Europe. The organizers finally decided to change the meaning of its acronym to 'Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere' (1993).

Natural Disasters

CARE also began an effort to assist people hit affected by major emergencies, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, and other disasters.

Women's Empowerment

CARE recently began a new effort to focusing on women’s empowerment (2007). This came from understanding from more than six decades of experience that women are the key to lifting entire families out of poverty.

Created: 7:32 PM 12/23/2015
Last updated: 12:04 PM 12/9/2018