CARE packages being unloaded from a truck during relief efforts in World War 2

The first CARE packages were U.S. Army surplus '10-in-1' food parcels originally intended to provide one meal for ten soldiers during the planned invasion of Japan.

Ten dollars bought a CARE package and guaranteed that its addressee would receive it within four months.

When the '10-in-1' parcels ran out, CARE began assembling its own food packages, greatly assisted by donations from American companies.

At first, senders had to designate a specific person as the recipient, but soon CARE was flooded with donations to send CARE packages to 'a hungry occupant of a thatched cottage,' 'a school teacher in Germany,' and so on.

Decades ago, the CARE package was phased out as we expanded the breadth of our work, focusing on long-term projects in addition to emergency relief.

However, it remains a powerful symbol of the compassion and generosity of those who support our vision of a world free of poverty and suffering.

What was in the first CARE packages?

• One pound of beef in broth
• One pound of steak and kidney
• Eight ounces of liver loaf
• Eight ounces of corned beef
• Twelve ounces of luncheon loaf (like Spam®)
• Eight ounces of bacon
• Two pounds of margarine
• One pound of lard
• One pound of fruit preserves
• One pound of honey
• One pound of raisins
• One pound of chocolate
• Two pounds of sugar
• Eight ounces of egg powder
• Two pounds of whole-milk powder
• Two pounds of coffee

Later, CARE packages included food for different cultural diets and non-food items such as carpentry tools, blankets, school supplies and medicine.

CARE International UK began as an independent, autonomous registered British charity in 1985, when it was known as CARE Britain.