About Us

MISSION

Our Mission is to join communities, build and strengthen neighbor relations, and work side-by-side with residents to address community-wide concerns and link resources supporting a healthy, safe, and economically comparable standard of living.

Our Philosophy is to nurture inclusive communities, unite to create support networks, and determine the necessary strategic actions to address chronic, but preventable, problems.

HISTORY

Americans Helping Americans® was founded in 1986 as an affiliate of Christian Relief Services. The original board of directors shared one mission: to “assist the homeless and destitute who might otherwise starve to death on the streets of America.” This included providing formula to mothers of newborns who could not afford it.

Since then, we’ve partnered with grassroots charitable groups, churches, and human service agencies to deliver food, supplies, and support to families in need—particularly in the Appalachian Region.

Incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 1990, Americans Helping Americans® was created in direct response to the extreme poverty faced by often-overlooked communities. Our goal is to ease unnecessary and chronic suffering by providing long-term solutions to hunger, limited education, substandard housing, and insufficient medical care.

The need remains great. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, the region’s median household income is $64,588, just 82% of the national median. And while there have been improvements in some areas, 14.3% of Appalachian residents still live in poverty. In many counties, families struggle with food insecurity, unsafe housing, and limited opportunities for education or employment.

We serve poverty-stricken families, the elderly, veterans, and individuals with disabilities throughout Appalachia, strengthening their efforts toward self-sufficiency through both emergency relief and sustainable support. A deserted coal mine in the Appalachian Mountains stands as a symbol of the economic decline that has left many communities without jobs, opportunity, or access to basic needs.

Working in close partnership with local churches, civic groups, schools, and nonprofit leaders, we direct private donations toward programs that make a difference.

WHAT WE DO

Americans Helping Americans® provides year-round support to address the root causes and daily realities of poverty across Appalachia. We partner with trusted grassroots organizations to deliver direct aid and invest in sustainable solutions.

Our work focuses on six key areas:

• Food and sustainability: Supporting families through food boxes, gardens, and holiday meals.
• Education: Providing school supplies, after-school programs, and access to summer and vocational learning.
• Home rehabilitation: Making homes safer through critical repairs and accessibility upgrades.
• Utilities and basic needs: Offering coats, blankets, rent support, and more to meet urgent needs.
• Medical assistance: Supplying dental kits, health screenings, and hygiene supplies for underserved communities.
• Community outreach: Empowering local groups to serve their neighbors and respond to crises.

Learn more about our initiatives on the Programs page.

WHERE WE WORK

Americans Helping Americans® serves communities throughout the Appalachian region, where families in many counties struggle with food insecurity, unsafe housing, and limited opportunities for education or employment. We work with local organizations in West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Learn more about our areas of service.

ACCREDITATIONS

Learn more about our accreditations and recognition.

AMERICA’S BEST CHARITIES

America’s Best Charities (ABC) is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit association. Only charities that meet the highest standards of public accountability and program effectiveness can become ABC member charities. Americans Helping Americans is recognized as a member of ABC.

Publications

2023 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report