Truest Relief Effort

Truest Relief Effort prioritizes immediate, on-the-ground response to natural disasters with ongoing support through the first year thereafter and seeks to provide the most needed support items to disaster areas along with volunteer efforts.

In October 2017, TRE raised more than $7,000 in its first week of existence for those impacted by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The organization's President traveled to Puerto Rico to distribute goods donated in the mainland United States, and purchase water, flashlights, water purifiers, feminine products, and mosquito protection on the island to distribute to rural communities. The organization launches disaster-specific campaigns with peer-to-peer fundraising options, just as it did for Hurricane Maria. In 2021, TRE raised more than $13,000 for Hurricane Ida victims. Then, over the course of 6 weeks, the organization distributed approximately $15,000 in meals, cleaning supplies, and other goods directly to disaster relief victims. The organization heads and other volunteers purchased and collected goods and transported them to the communities that were hardest hit by Ida, including setting up a distribution point in Cutoff, Louisiana.

Annually, TRE envisions continuing to support relief efforts for up to three natural disasters. Unlike most other disaster relief organizations, TRE is entirely volunteer run to ensure money raised is 95% committed to beneficiaries in need, with overhead limited to transportation costs of gas and box trucks to mobilize supplies, and a maximum of two plane tickets to transport volunteers for on-the-ground rebuilding and transfer of goods. Currently, TRE operates with a volunteer staff of two who serve as President and Treasurer.