Our History

Incorporated in 1990, Americans Helping Americans® was founded as a direct response to the extreme poverty that exists within our country and the hardships faced by often overlooked populations. Our goal is to ease unnecessary and chronic suffering by creating long-term solutions to the problems of hunger, limited education, substandard housing and insufficient medical care.

We work throughout the Appalachian regions with poverty-stricken families, the elderly, veterans and disabled to meet their emergency needs and strengthen their efforts toward self-sufficiency.

A deserted coal mine stands in the Appalachian Mountains as a reminder of the coal mine workers and their families struggling to survive without their jobs.

We work in close partnership with local churches, civic groups, businesses, and schools, by providing monetary and in-kind donations to the most disadvantaged families and individuals.

Funds raised through private donations are used for home repairs and eviction prevention, afterschool program, vocational training support, summer food programs, utility and medical assistance, eye exams and glasses, new shoes and winter coats, school supplies, monthly and holiday food distributions, and additional emergency needs.

Since 1998, AHA has also sponsored over 10,000 children attending day and residential summer camps and supported enrichment programs for at-risk youth.