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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A global coalition of humanitarian and medical organizations has announced the launch of a new program designed to safeguard kidney and dialysis patients affected by crises worldwide.

The Global Humanitarian Kidney Support Initiative, a partnership between Direct Relief, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the European Renal Association (ERA), and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), seeks to maintain uninterrupted care for individuals with severe kidney diseases during emergencies such as natural disasters, conflicts, and in areas with limited healthcare access.

By combining worldwide clinical nephrology expertise with practical humanitarian logistics, this initiative aims to uphold kidney care services when healthcare systems are disrupted or overwhelmed.

Patients dependent on dialysis or post-transplant therapies requiring critical medications are particularly at risk during emergencies. Continuous treatment is vital for their survival, and any disruption can quickly lead to life-threatening situations. To mitigate these dangers, the initiative will coordinate emergency assistance for healthcare facilities, supply essential medicines and materials, and provide training to healthcare workers managing care in difficult conditions.

“Consistent access to life-sustaining treatments for kidney patients can be challenging to maintain during disasters,” explained Alycia Clark, Chief Pharmacist at Direct Relief. “This partnership supports the delivery of care by ensuring facilities receive the necessary supplies, training, and coordination to provide treatment safely even in crisis settings.”

The collaborating organizations have a history of joint efforts during major crises in the U.S., Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions. The launch formalizes their cooperation, aiming to enhance the speed, coordination, and scale of future responses.

Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief, emphasized, “This initiative demonstrates the greater impact achieved when organizations combine their strengths with a shared goal of addressing urgent medical needs. By bringing together nephrology leaders and humanitarian experts, we create an effective framework to deliver critical kidney care where it is most vulnerable.”

Beyond emergency relief, the initiative also focuses on sustainable improvements by bolstering healthcare infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries, expanding professional training, and promoting patient education and disease prevention. Direct Relief will oversee medical supply management and operational logistics, while ASN, ERA, and ISN will spearhead regional activities through their networks and affiliated societies.

Jeffrey Silberzweig, MD, Chair of ASN’s Humanitarian Kidney Support Program, stated, “ASN is proud to join forces with ERA, ISN, and Direct Relief. Together, we can better support patients and caregivers in areas impacted by both natural and human-made disasters, maximizing the reach of each organization’s resources. Support from corporate and foundation donors will be critical to helping people with kidney disease thrive, even in the toughest situations.”

Professor Mehmet Şükrü Sever, Chair of ERA’s Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force, noted, “Kidney patients are among the most vulnerable in disaster zones, as their survival depends on functional healthcare infrastructure, advanced technology, and skilled personnel—often within a very short timeframe. This initiative can save lives by promoting clinical education, raising patient awareness, improving prevention strategies, and delivering essential aid when it is most needed.”

Prof. Ali Abu-Alfa, Chair of ISN’s Renal Disaster Preparedness Working Group, added, “In many regions, kidney care access is already precarious. During crises, interruptions in treatment become critically dangerous. By strengthening ties between renal professional societies and humanitarian groups, this initiative enables ISN to apply its expertise and connect local providers with urgent support.”

Looking forward, the initiative plans to broaden its impact by collaborating with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, philanthropic organizations, and global health partners to address critical care gaps and enhance ongoing support for individuals with kidney disease, particularly in areas where treatment options remain fragile.