One of the most significant benefits of FedEx’s in-kind transportation support is that its value extends well beyond the delivery of an individual shipment. The program enables Rise Against Hunger to develop stronger partnerships with organizations in the countries where it operates, improve access to essential healthcare, and mobilize resources rapidly when disasters and other emergencies occur.

A recent vaccine delivery to Haiti illustrates this broader impact. With assistance from FedEx, Rise Against Hunger arranged the temperature-controlled transportation of HPV vaccines from New York to Miami, followed by their onward shipment to Haiti. Working closely with Haiti’s Minister of Health, Dr. Bertrand Sinal, and his team, the organization managed the logistics and coordinated the swift movement of the vaccines through customs while ensuring that the required cold-chain conditions were maintained throughout the journey. The $9.8 million shipment is expected to protect approximately 2,500 Haitians from HPV-related cancers. It also created an opportunity to explore a significantly larger vaccine donation with the donor.

The benefits of this partnership continued well after the vaccines reached Haiti. Following a recent earthquake in Venezuela, Dr. Sinal contacted Rise Against Hunger to explain that Haiti had sent medical professionals and a cargo aircraft carrying supplies from Haitian hospitals to assist with the emergency response.

Through the relationship established during the vaccine initiative, Dr. Sinal and his colleagues introduced Rise Against Hunger to Haiti’s ambassador to Venezuela and other government representatives responsible for coordinating the response.

These introductions provided Rise Against Hunger with a direct channel through which it could contribute additional aid. As part of its immediate emergency efforts, the organization arranged for 285,120 meals to be transported from several warehouses to the Port of Miami. The meals were then prepared for shipment to Venezuela through the FedEx in-kind transportation program.

The response has also grown beyond addressing immediate food shortages. Rise Against Hunger is supporting longer-term healthcare needs in communities affected by the earthquake. A shipping container has been prepared with 40 pallets containing hospital and trauma-care equipment, antibiotics, medications for adults and children, and substantial quantities of adult, pediatric and prenatal vitamins. These supplies will assist medical teams in treating injuries, managing continuing health needs and supporting vulnerable families throughout the recovery process.

This experience highlights the multiplier effect that can emerge from a strong partnership. What initially began as an effort to improve preventive healthcare access in Haiti helped establish a stronger working relationship with the country’s Ministry of Health. That relationship subsequently created an avenue through which Haiti, Rise Against Hunger and its established partners could work together to support communities affected by an emergency in another country. At the same time, the collaboration has expanded opportunities to improve healthcare access during the longer recovery period following the earthquake.

The benefits of FedEx’s in-kind transportation program frequently begin even before a shipment is assembled or leaves a warehouse. Knowing that transportation assistance is available gives Rise Against Hunger greater confidence when accepting offers of medicines, medical equipment and other critical supplies from donors. Donations originating in different locations can be collected and consolidated at the organization’s warehouses, allowing larger and more strategically planned shipments to be created around the priorities identified by local partners and government authorities.

Experience has shown that a single successful delivery can become the starting point for much larger opportunities. When donors see that their complex donations can be transported safely and efficiently, they are often encouraged to offer additional products or participate in larger initiatives. Likewise, when government health ministries and local partners see that Rise Against Hunger consistently fulfills its commitments, confidence and trust grow. This can lead to new relationships, requests for assistance and opportunities to reach additional communities. Much of the value generated by FedEx’s in-kind transportation support occurs behind the scenes and may therefore not be apparent in an individual shipment report.

Ultimately, this is the power of effective collaboration. One contribution can create a new relationship, that relationship can lead to another opportunity, and the combined effort can produce an impact that would be difficult for any one organization to achieve on its own.

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When crisis strikes, every moment matters. The quicker Heart to Heart International (HHI) can mobilize, the greater the difference we can make. But rapid, effective response is only possible with strong preparation and training.

With the generous backing of FedEx, 2024–2025 has marked a turning point in HHI’s readiness programs. Expanded online courses, realistic simulations, and specialized training modules have equipped our staff and volunteers with the skills needed to handle the challenges of disaster response. This preparation ensures we can reach communities faster, deliver higher-quality care, and impact more lives.

The value of this investment became clear during hurricanes Helene and Milton, which tore through seven states in late 2024. These back-to-back emergencies put our systems to the test, but because of advanced training, our teams rose to the occasion. Volunteers who completed leadership modules stepped into critical roles, and one participant trained in our new Power and Communications program successfully managed all field technology for a 15-member unit. This freed medical staff to distribute $2.2 million in aid and care for more than 400 patients, including administering 239 essential vaccines.

This level of readiness has now become our standard. In April 2025, HHI conducted its largest Emergency Medical Team (EMT) simulation to date. Staff and volunteers worked together to establish mobile clinics, manage logistics, and triage patients in a controlled, real-world scenario. The goal was simple: ensure no one is learning for the first time during an actual deployment.

Before the exercise, only a handful of volunteers felt “very prepared” to deploy. Afterward, that number more than doubled, and every participant reported feeling more confident and capable. The training didn’t just build technical skills—it fostered trust, strengthened teamwork, and empowered leaders. One volunteer reflected, “Experiencing the entire process, from communication to patient care, showed how much planning goes into it. It really demonstrated HHI’s commitment, and that’s why I’m proud to be involved.”

Through the LearnUpon Learning Management System, HHI has also expanded access to training globally. Staff and volunteers can now study disaster medicine, logistics, cultural awareness, and more at any time. To date, 91 learners have completed 20 courses, with additional programs on the way. This ensures responders are prepared long before they set foot in the field.

Every training session is an investment in someone’s survival. Thanks to FedEx, HHI is stronger, faster, and better prepared to deliver care wherever it’s needed most.

We are deeply grateful to FedEx for making this progress possible. Together, we’re proving that with the right preparation, we can be there—ready to respond—whenever disaster strikes.