In times of hardship, any source of support can make a difference. Usually, when people seek assistance, they check out the federal options available. Although the government offers many helpful assistance opportunities and programs, it’s not the only source of support in the United States. In fact, there are many organizations that offer support and resources to people in need. In this article, you will find a list of popular non-profit organizations to consider in times of need.

What Organizations Can Provide Assistance?

There are a number of nonprofits out there, each with a specific mission. You might not be familiar with all of them. For this reason, it’s important to learn more about some popular organizations that provide support. The following list has a few organizations that might be able to assist you:

• Feeding America
• United Way Worldwide
• Americares Foundation
• Catholic Charities USA
• Samaritan’s Purse
• United States Fund For UNICEF
• Step Up For Students
• YMCA
• American Heart Association

Feeding America

As you might guess from the name, Feeding America is a non-profit that works to support families in the United States with their nutrition needs. The organization realizes how hard it can be for some families to afford food, which may affect people’s health. This is why it helps local food banks by distributing food, money, and other resources donated by the public. The organization serves over 5.2 billion meals to people in need through their network every year. They also conduct hunger research to be able to help the community properly.

United Way Worldwide

United Way Worldwide is a well-known charity that works to improve living conditions in a wide variety of places throughout the world. Generally, this organization helps with things like medical care, education, financial security, etc. Their primary goal is to provide community-based and locally-focused solutions to national issues. The organization doesn’t only work on a global scale; in fact, it also provides its services locally to needy people in the United States.

Americares Foundation

Medical support is crucial, especially in times of disaster. The Americares Foundation is a charitable group that helps those who are struggling due to poverty or the aftermath of natural disasters. For almost 40 years, this non-profit has been working to achieve its goal of responding rapidly to disasters and meeting the essential needs of communities around the country. They provide this aid through:

• Medications
• Healthcare plans
• Other medical resources

Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Charities USA can be the ideal place to go during difficult times. The charity calls on individuals of goodwill everywhere to help them achieve their mission of promoting social justice. Their goal is to support the poor in the United States through church funds and resources.

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is an evangelical, nondenominational Christian charity that provides aid to those in need. They offer both medical and financial assistance. In fact, the organization’s aid extends beyond the borders of the United States to individuals in need anywhere in the world. Their motivation to help those in need came from Christian literature that highlighted the need to show goodwill.

United States Fund For UNICEF

UNICEF is an international organization that aims to rescue and protect the world’s most vulnerable children. In order to achieve their goals, they collaborate with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advocate for children’s rights. They also work on providing children’s basic needs, such as healthcare, vaccines, nutrition, and access to clean water. Following WWII, UNICEF started helping starving and ill children in Europe, the Middle East, and China by delivering:

• Nutritional supplements
• Powdered milk
• Immunizations
• Prescription drugs
• Other relevant necessities

The United States is only one of more than 190 countries and areas where UNICEF is actively working to protect and improve the lives of children. UNICEF USA raises funds and awareness in the United States for UNICEF’s work across the world to help children. They work together with:

• Government officials
• Public figures
• Businesses
• Schools
• Churches
• Individuals

Step Up For Students

Step Up for Students generally aims to raise awareness about the suffering of low-income families that lack access to high-quality educational resources. Their primary goal is to involve parents in their children’s educational experiences. They contribute to the community by sponsoring scholarships that have been approved by the state.

YMCA

The YMCA is most likely the largest non-profit organization in the US. Currently, the organization works with over 10,000 communities across the United States. Its mission is to help people experience the good social and personal transformation that may occur when people work together. Therefore, the YMCA is committed to empowering communities.

Together with other organizations, the YMCA works to ensure that everyone in the community has the possibility to grow and learn. This organization seeks to provide all members of society with the same access to educational and professional development opportunities. Everyone is treated equally, regardless of their gender, race, or age. The YMCA also serves as a bridge between individuals all around the world.

American Heart Association

In 1924, some cardiologists decided to establish the American Heart Association to help improve Americans’ health. Today, the organization puts so much effort into fighting cardiovascular disease and strokes in the United States. In order to accomplish this goal, it works with:

• Over 22.5 million individuals (partners and employees)
• Over 3,000 representatives across the country
• 156 local offices around the US

For the sake of saving and improving people’s lives, they fund innovative research projects, advocate for better public health policies, and provide vital tools and information. The association has volunteer professionals who decide which studies to support, which they then conduct and review.

In Conclusion

There are lots of people who struggle to make ends meet in the United States and around the world. When Americans need help, many of them think of the federal government as the first source of support to go to. However, the support options available are not limited to government assistance. In fact, there are a variety of organizations that provide assistance to those who need it. These organizations provide several types of services to help with different needs. In addition to the listed options above, there might be other local organizations in your area that may be helpful. You just need to review your options and choose the one that works for your situation.