Direct Relief International (DRI), headquartered in Santa Barbara, California is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political organization providing medical donations to health facilities and indigenous health projects serving the needy in medically less-developed areas of the world including the U.S.A.
Direct Relief is dedicated to the concept that strengthening the health base of developing nations is an essential step in promoting their productivity and self-sufficiency.
Direct Relief also provides fast and appropriate assistance to victims of natural and civil disasters and to health facilities that have been damaged as a result of these calamities, DRI provides ongoing assistance through the rebuilding period.
How Does Direct Relief Work?
Direct Relief assists charitable hospitals, clinics and health that offer medical services and health education to the needy. Requests for assistance are initiated by potential recipients, and Direct Relief tailors its response to their specific needs.
All recipients must agree to render service to anyone who requests medical care, regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin, political affiliation or ability to pay.
Medical Donation Programs
Direct Relief provides pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, new and refurbished medical equipment, nutritional supplements, and used eyeglasses which have been screened and coded.
Where possible, recipients help to cover the costs of processing, packing and shipping the medical donation either directly or through a sponsor. When this is not possible, costs are met through the fund-raising efforts of Direct Relief lnternational itself.
Operational Efficiency
Direct Relief keeps operating costs to a minimum, spending less than 5% of all contributions on overhead. Direct Relief has been recognized as one of the nation's most cost-effective charitable organizations by Money magazine and the US News and World Report.
Visit their Web Site: Direct Relief International
For more information contact:
Dan Smith: Program Officer, Disaster Coordinator
Katherine Poma: Program Officer
Phone:(805) 964-4767
Fax:(805) 681-4838
E-mail: Direct Relief International
27 S. South La Patera Ln.
Santa Barbara, CA, 93117-3251