History of CARE International

At the beginning, there was a package: a CARE package, aimed to reduce hunger and show solidarity with the people of war-torn Europe.

More than 60 years ago, at the end of World War II in 1945, twenty-two American charities, a mixture of civic, religious, cooperative and labor organizations got together to found CARE. Originally known as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe we began to deliver millions of CARE packages across Europe. A small shipment of food and relief supplies to hungry recipients - with a huge impact on people’s lives. An impact that still being felt today as CARE continues to assist millions of women and men around the world.

During the next three decades, CARE shifted its focus from helping Europe to delivering assistance in the developing world. We started programs in the areas of education, natural resources management, nutrition, water and sanitation, and healthcare in Southern Africa, South Asia and South America. Broadening the geographic focus and expanding beyond the original food distribution programs, CARE started to assist people affected by major emergencies – from famine in Ethiopia to hurricane recovery in Honduras.