Some Americans aren’t eligible for support through government-funded assistance programs, and they often give up, not knowing that other organizations are out there to offer a helping hand.
Assistance may be just around the corner, and it’s important to know just how you can acquire it, and we’ve compiled a list of all the better-known NGOs out there that offer assistance to impoverished or disaster-stricken people in America and across the globe.
If you don’t qualify for federal assistance, you’ll want to know how you can acquire it through other channels, and if you keep reading you’ll learn all there is to know about the many non-governmental organizations in the US that offer assistance.
Some stand tall above the competition and have made a name for themselves through years of dedication to individuals and communities, among which you’ll find NGOs like the YMCA, Feeding America, The American Heart Association, and many others.
Feeding America
Similar to how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ensures that needy Americans get their fair share of nutritious food, the Feeding America organization has spent decades fighting hunger in the US.
They provide nutritious food to families that are desperate for help but don’t qualify for federal assistance, and they offer it in the form of donations to local food banks, which then distribute these resources to soup kitchens and other organizations that help feed hungry Americans across the nation.
Other times, the assistance comes in the form of cash or other items that may help the battle against hunger in this country, and years of dedication to this cause have helped Feeding America establish itself as an organization that has kept food pantries able to provide support to the individuals and families that need it most.
Salvation Army
Commonly referred to as a thrift shop, Salvation Army has shown that they’re much more than a source of free hand-me-downs for low-income Americans, and they offer help in a number of ways.
From supporting local homeless shelters to funding rehab programs in communities, the Salvation Army has helped shape assistance programs across the nation into what they are today, and they’ve continued doing it for years on end.
They also offer classes for the impoverished, giving them some much-needed tips and access to education programs that will help them stay out of poverty while also offering services to veterans in the US when no one else would.
Apart from this, they’ve made countless donations to food banks across the country, aiding the US in the never-ending battle against hunger in low-income communities and households.
American Heart Association
Unlike the previous two, the American Heart Association has focused on dealing with an entirely different issue that has plagued this nation for decades, that being the extremely high rate of heart disease and stroke for Americans.
Founded by the top six cardiologists in the US at the time, the AHA has now grown into a nationwide organization with more than 2900 employees and partners contributing to this noble cause.
Their support has helped push research projects as well as fight for improvements to public health regulations, which has helped save millions of lives ever since the organization was founded.
Right now, there are more than 156 American Heart Association offices across the nation, with more than 3000 representatives making sure that assistance is provided where it’s needed the most.
On top of funding research on cardiovascular health, the AHA provides a number of different education options focused on health, including CPR classes and general education regarding public health in the US.
YMCA
Finally, we have the YMCA, an organization that has withstood the test of time and helped change thousands of communities in the US for the better.
Their main goal is bringing people together, and with that, promoting positive social and personal change in the communities they’re influencing.
They also collaborate with community centers, making sure that everyone’s given an equal chance at education and development, and they’ve grown into an organization that’s now present in over 10k different neighborhoods across the US.
Similar to the majority of other non-profits in the country, the YMCA’s main goal is to provide educational opportunities and skill development programs to everyone, without ever discriminating against anyone based on their skin color, religion, gender, or nationality.
It’s likely the biggest non-profit in the US at the time, and its work has reflected on thousands of communities and individuals over the years.
Bottom line
Help is out there, and it’s up to you to reach out for it, and even when everything feels hopeless, know that there are organizations willing to offer you a helping hand.
Explore all your options and find the non-profit that offers services that are a good fit for your current circumstances, and everything will slowly fall into place.