Emergencies and disasters are increasing in frequency and severity here at home and abroad. Each event affects hundreds of millions of people and stretches the capacity of the response organizations. BBF’s Disaster Response program focuses on working hand-in-hand with first responders and relief agencies in the affected areas to provide ongoing support. This includes the sourcing and staging of resources, creating partnerships with transportation networks, and working with local partners and other VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), along with engaging with volunteers to sort and send disaster relief supplies.

BBF responded to 11 disasters throughout 2021, providing grants, medication, healthcare equipment, and humanitarian supplies for relief and recovery efforts. BBF continued to support COVID globally.

The Haiti earthquake was the deadliest disaster in 2021, with a magnitude of 7.2 and a death count of 2,248 people. As COVID continued to spread around the globe, we shipped PPE to Puerto Rico, Haiti, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica in 2021. Locally, BBF supplied PPE to U.S.-based hospitals, healthcare clinics, senior care facilities, and community organizations.