Basic Needs
Americans are suffering with costs of everyday goods increasing. Americans Helping Americans addresses this issue by providing items often taken for granted. We distribute coats and blankets for enduring the harsh Appalachian winters. Proper footwear for students so their feet are protected and they can do the activities they want. Food boxes so that 10,000 families can supplement their nutrition needs. Also, dental kits to help the children practice correct oral hygiene.
Grants are also provided to our partners in Appalachian, local leaders and organizations that wish to help their neighbors to provide assistance for utility bills. Often times landlords evict renters for delinquent utility payments which can snowball a family into living on the streets. Americans with oxygen machines also rely on electricity to live and we make sure we can assist those people.
Coats

We help meet the needs of the families in Appalachia who cannot afford to buy coats for their families. We support our partners who help children and families get warm winter coats, mittens, scarves, and blankets.
Bare Feet

For a child growing up in poverty in Appalachia, the worn-out pair of shoes they are wearing today likely came from an older sibling, or perhaps even a parent. That’s why we began our Barefeet program in which a child and their parent or guardian is taken to a shoe store by one of our partner organizations where the child is able to pick out EXACTLY what pair of shoes they want.
Food Bank Support

For many children living in poverty, having reliable meals is just a dream. Our grants stock food banks with healthier perishable items. We deliver meals to children in the summer times when school is out as well as to families without vehicles that live too far from grocery centers.
Utility Support

Not being able to pay rent or utilities can often mean eviction and homelessness. We ensure thousands of lights stay on, respiratory assisting machines operate, and children stay warm during the cold winter months. We also ensure hundreds of children get new shoes, as well as warm winter coats and winter gear.
THE CHALLENGES
Food, coats, medical appointments, personal hygiene items are easy to come by for many but many go without. Our programs provide these basic needs.
Our 2023 Impact
Received utility/rent assistance
Youth and adult coats were distributed to school students, the elderly, and the homeless
Dental kits given to children
Blankets distributed to families and homeless individuals
Individuals received medical treatment at a free clinic in Georgia
Congratulations to our January 2025 Hero of the Month
Recognizing Selfless Acts of Service The Americans Helping Americans® Hero of the Month grant program celebrates individuals who make a significant impact in their communities through volunteering, acts of heroism, and dedicated service. These extraordinary...
Barefeet – “A fresh pair of shoes can be just what a child needs to feel confident and prepared to face the world.”
For a child growing up in poverty in Appalachia, the pair of shoes they are wearing today likely came from an older sibling, or perhaps even a parent. And it’s not unlikely that shoes are too large, or too small, are worn out well beyond their useful life and perhaps...
Implementing Solutions to Strengthen Rural Education Access
Quality education is a fundamental stepping stone to a brighter future, yet for many children in America’s rural communities, especially in Appalachia, this stepping stone is fraught with challenges. Limited resources, poverty, and lack of access to basic educational...
A look at the impact we have made in 2024 on the lives of children, families, and the Appalachian communities they live in.
The mission of Americans Helping Americans is to join communities, build and strengthen neighbor relations, and work side by side with local residents to address community-wide concerns linking them to the resources supportive of a healthy, safe, and economically...
Hero of the Month November 2024 – Jim Wilson
The Americans Helping Americans® Hero of the Month grant award program recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through commendable deeds, heroic acts, volunteering, and efforts to improve the lives of others. For November,...
A Want2Work Grant is paving the way for a young mom to become a nurse
Through the Americans Helping Americans® Want2Work initiative, vocational and technical schools across Appalachia can apply for grants to help students overcome financial barriers. These grants are used to purchase essential items like lab coats, smocks, and...