Heart to Heart International

Logo of Heart to Heart International

Heart to Heart International is a United States based global humanitarian organization which works to improve health and to respond to the needs of disaster victims worldwide.

Background

History

Heart to Heart started with the vision of Dr. Gary Morsch and other Rotary Club members who were on a mission to deliver medication to after the Chernobyl disaster in Russia. This one-time event planted a vision in Dr. Morsch to create an organization to consistently serve the poor. In its first 12 years of existence, Heart to Heart distributed $387,131,297 in cumulative aid. Heart to Heart International's headquarters are in Olathe, Kansas.

Programs

Domestic programs

Heart to Heart is present in multiple cities across the United States to connect volunteers and supplies to agencies serving America's poor and needy, which includes the homeless, victims of violence and abuse, the elderly, and the medically destitute. There is also an annual national day of community service that engages volunteers in strategic cities to provide vital "people power" to the agency network.

International programs

East Asia and Pacific

Over the past three years, Heart to Heart has distributed medical aid in the following countries: Cambodia, China, East Timor, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, India, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Europe and Central Asia

Over the past three years, Heart to Heart has distributed medical aid in the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Pakistan, Republic of Georgia, Romania, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

Africa

Over the past three years, Heart to Heart has distributed medical aid in the following countries: Angola, Benin, Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Israel/Gaza, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Latin America and Caribbean

Over the past three years, Heart to Heart has distributed medical aid in the following countries: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Current projects

Middle East

Heart to Heart currently has teams deployed in Cyprus and Jordan that are handing out water-purification tablets and medical aid supplies to refugee camps.

Indonesia

When the 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java, Heart to Heart mobilized its network to reach out to those in Yogyakarta and Bantul. Not only are water and medical supplies being passed out to those in need, but intermediate general hygiene and healthcare is being offered. Several airlifts have been delivered to the region, and aid will continue to come in as the quality of life improves.

New Orleans

When Hurricane Katrina hit, Heart to Heart was one of the first humanitarian organizations to be down in the Gulf Coast. For several weeks and months after the hurricane hit, free medical clinics were operated throughout the region. At the local clinics, there continues to be around 100 people served a day.

Heart to Heart International recently purchased a prototype, state-of-the-art mobile medical clinic, fully furnished to expand into a modern medical clinic on wheels. As soon as the fabrication for the mobile medical clinic was finished, it was sent down to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. It continues to serve there to this day.

China

When the 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Sichuan, China, Heart to Heart was one of the first foreign NGOs to respond. An emergency operations command center was set up in the provincial capital of Chengdu and has been the heart of relief efforts in the affected areas. The main goal of Heart to Heart during this time is finding and filling needs in a way that opens doors for long-term cooperative engagement leading to rebuilding lives and communities. After initial efforts of search and rescue and general medical relief, Heart to Heart has begun to look to the long-term task of rebuilding the area around Chengdu.

Past projects

Tajikistan airlift

On October 25, 2005, Heart to Heart International in a partnership with Physicians with Heart Airlifts delivered over $8 million worth of medical supplies.

Uzbekistan airlift

During the month of October, 2002, Heart to Heart International partnered again with Physicians with Heart Airlifts to airlift around $10 million worth of pharmaceuticals to hospitals in need. After the airlift was completed, there was a commemoration service for the work that had been accomplished in this country.