First Care Packages

CARE package being shown to officials in Paris. U.S. National Archives / Circa 1947 / Public Domain

The first C.A.R.E packages from the United States arrived in Europe on the 11th of May 1946.

“On May 11, 1946, the first 20,000 packages reached the battered port of Le Havre, France.” ^[1]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp

They arrived on the cargo ship “American Traveler”. ^[2]Klein, Christopher. The First CARE Package. The History Channel. 11 May 2016. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.history.com/news/the-first-care-package

To this day, CARE is “one of the largest nonsectarian, nongovernment organizations in the world working in international development and relief.” ^[3]Crowley, Carolyn Hughes. Aid in Small Boxes. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Magazine. 30 April 2001. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/aid-in-small-boxes-42294902/

#CarePackages

See also: Start of World War Two 1939

Organizing the first C.A.R.E. packages

The C.A.R.E organization was legally formed on 27 November 1945. ^[4]Eschner, Kat. How WWII Created the Care Package. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Magazine. 25 November 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-wwi-created-care-package-180967315/

It was organized by Arthur Ringland and Dr. Lincoln Clark. It was Lincoln’s wife, Alice, who came up with the CARE name in 1945. ^[5]The Original CARE Package is Born. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.care.org/about-us/our-history/

The goal of the project was to send food to people in Europe who were living in near starvation at the end of World War Two.

Twenty-two U.S. organizations participated: “22 American organizations came together to rush lifesaving CARE Packages to survivors of World War II…” ^[6]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp

The first shipment of packages were actually boxes of rations originally meant for the U.S. army:

“The earliest CARE packages were surplus U.S. Army “Ten-in-One” food parcels, originally intended as G. I. rations, which had the advantage of being pre-boxed and ready for shipment.” ^[7]Eschner, Kat. How WWII Created the Care Package. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Magazine. 25 November 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-wwi-created-care-package-180967315/

These rations had been meant for a land invasion of Japan, but were no longer needed when Japan surrendered:

“The first CARE Packages were U.S. Army surplus “10-in-1″ food parcels intended to provide one meal for 10 soldiers during the planned invasion of Japan. We obtained them at the end of World War II and began a service that let Americans send the packages to friends and families in Europe, where millions were in danger of starvation.” ^[8]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp ^[9]”The first packages’ contents came from surplus Army rations, which the United States had stored for the invasion of Japan.” — Crowley, Carolyn Hughes. Aid in Small Boxes. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Magazine. 30 April 2001. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/aid-in-small-boxes-42294902/

The first CARE packages cost sponsors $10 each:

“Ten dollars bought a CARE Package and guaranteed that its addressee would receive it within four months.” ^[10]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp

By May 1946, a second shipment of packages was already being organized. Two additional organizations came onboard, to make a total of 24 now. The supply of rations had run out, so C.A.R.E began assembling its own food packages:

“When the “10-in-1″ parcels ran out, we began assembling our own food packages, greatly assisted by donations from American companies.” ^[11]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp

The cost went up from $10.00 to $15.00 per package: “The entire cost to the donor of such a package is $15.00.” ^[12]Relief packages may be sent through new organization. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. 17 May 1946. Page 7, col. 1.

“To order a CARE package for someone, you mailed a $15 check or money order to CARE.” ^[13]Eschner, Kat. How WWII Created the Care Package. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Magazine. 25 November 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-wwi-created-care-package-180967315/

At first, you ordered a C.A.R.E. package specifically for someone you knew. But Americans soon wanted to donate even to people they didn’t know:

“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.” ^[14]CARE. History. April 2007. Accessed April 2021 at https://web.archive.org/web/20070418105214/http://www.care.org/about/history.asp

One key feature of the program was the donor always got confirmation of delivery: “When a recipient received the gift, a signed receipt was returned to the sender within 120 days.” ^[15]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

If for whatever reason confirmed delivery proved impossible, the donor was guaranteed to get a full refund of their money:

“If at the end of 120 days after receipt of a remittance order CARE’s overseas representatives are unable to locate the beneficiary or if delivery for some other reason is impossible the full dollar payment will be refunded to the donor.” ^[16]Relief packages may be sent through new organization. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. 17 May 1946. Page 7, col. 1.

This no doubt would have given donors great assurance that their money, being sent off to the great unknowns of Europe, was achieving the purpose for which they had intended.

What was in the first CARE Packages?

The very first original CARE packages were repurposed from the U.S. Army’s “10-in-1” food rations, which were designed to contain enough for ten soldiers to eat one full meal. Here’s what each of the approximately 15,000 packages contained: ^[17]Waxman, Olivia B. Here’s What Was Inside the First-Ever ‘Care Package’. Time Magazine. 11 May 2016. Accessed April 2021 at https://time.com/4322199/first-care-package/

9.8 pounds of stews and hashes
6.5 pounds of cereal and biscuits
3.6 pounds of fruit and jam pudding
2.3 pounds of vegetables
3.9 pounds of sugar and candy
1.1 pounds of cocoa, coffee and beverage powders
0.8 pounds of evaporated milk
0.5 pounds of preserved butter
0.4 pounds of cheese
A pack of cigarettes
Chewing gum

The second round of C.A.R.E. packages C.A.R.E. assembled itself. These, for instance, would not include cigarettes:

“In 1946, with the help of nutritionists, CARE started to design food packages aimed at families, eliminating such items as cigarettes, to replace the Ten-in-One parcels when that supply was exhausted.” ^[18]Eschner, Kat. How WWII Created the Care Package. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Magazine. 25 November 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-wwi-created-care-package-180967315/

The food items included reflected more the types of food that might be used in household cooking, as opposed to field rations:

“…CARE assembled its own packages, typically containing several tinned meats, eight ounces of powdered eggs, a pound each of lard, apricot preserves, honey, and raisins, and two pounds each of margarine, sugar, powdered milk, and coffee.” ^[19]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

Savvy, future-thinking food companies made product donations, no doubt with an eye to winning over future customers in emerging European markets for their goods. These donations helped to bulk out the C.A.R.E. packages, but the organization still had to buy most of the contents of the packages:

“Food companies made donations of their products, but CARE bought most of these supplies and paid for their shipment.” ^[20]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

The supplies were amassed in Philadelphia, and the C.A.R.E. boxes made up from them and shipped out from there:

“The packages were assembled in Philadelphia, shipped overseas, and delivered locally by any means of conveyance.” ^[21]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

By the end of 1946, CARE packages were being delivered to 10 countries in Europe including German, Czechoslovakia, and Scotland. But, they soon learned that one size did not fit all.

“CARE began sending packages it designed for civilian families, containing more meats and more fats. Criticism soon followed. The French groused that the contents did not lend themselves to the French cuisine. The Irish insisted on a substitute for the meat products. The British wanted fruit juices and extra fats instead of flour, which was not in short supply. So CARE began customizing.” ^[22]Crowley, Carolyn Hughes. Aid in Small Boxes. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Magazine. 30 April 2001. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/aid-in-small-boxes-42294902/

The customized C.A.R.E. packages began taking cultural culinary preferences into account:

“The more specialized packages substituted tea for coffee in parcels sent to Britain, added spaghetti to Italian packages, and included kosher packages. Within its first two years of operations, CARE was able to offer its donors a selection of more than a dozen different packages.” ^[23]Eschner, Kat. How WWII Created the Care Package. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Magazine. 25 November 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-wwi-created-care-package-180967315/

Later packages included material to mend clothes, medicines, school supplies, etc.: “As the famine threat subsided, CARE packages included books, blankets, tools, and knitting supplies.” ^[24]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

Shipments started to Japan in 1948:

“That relief extended to Japan in 1948. The aid to Japan lasted eight years, cost $2.9 million and reached some 10 million people… The care packages were small packages with foodstuff, clothes and other goods sent to war-torn regions. Japan received the packages throughout the country from 1948 to 1955. Packages included necessities such as food and clothing, but carpentry tools, produce, seeds, and farm implements were also sent, making it possible for people to get back to work and for engineers to make advances. These packages played a large part in giving the war-ravaged people a chance for economic liberty.” ^[25]Who Sent Those CARE Packages to Japan after World War II? Seattle, Washington: The North American Post. 29 July 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://napost.com/2017/sent-care-packages-japan-world-war-ii/

Over the decades, the CARE organization has been able to keep in touch with many recipients of the packages:

“The CARE organization keeps in contact with many former refugees who received packages, said Brian Feagans, CARE’s director of communications. “We see these original CARE package recipients as this incredible group of people who have a deeper understanding, maybe than most, of what it means to get help in your lowest moments,” Feagans told me. “Particularly from a stranger in America. That really resonated with a lot of them.” ^[26]Stevens, Heidi. In 1948, this WWII refugee got a CARE package from America. Last month, he paid it back. Chicago, Illinois: The Chicago Tribune. 9 March 2009. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/heidi-stevens/ct-refugee-letter-to-syrian-boy-balancing-0309-20160309-column.html

CARE no longer sends food packages, but provides assistance in other ways.

“The food package program ended in 1967, as CARE switched to other means of shipping commodities, though it renewed the classic CARE Package occasionally, most recently in the former Soviet republics and in Bosnia.” ^[27]CARE Package. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Accessed April 2021 at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1274715

Switching to debit cards and donating those to people allows recipients to buy food in their local markets, which also helps boost their local producers of food:

“It now uses electronic banking systems to funnel donations to those in need…. what we do now is we provide each family with a debit card, which they can use to buy exactly what they need.” This new system cuts down transportation costs, and, Nunn adds, is designed to benefit local farmers and businesses.” ^[28]Singh, Maanvi. Care Packages: How The U.S. Won Hearts Through Stomachs After WWII. National Public Radio. 11 May 2016. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/11/477646580/care-packages-how-the-u-s-won-hearts-through-stomachs-after-wwii

History

The acronym C.A.R.E. first stood for “Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe.”

In 1948, C.A.R.E. helped feed Berliners during the Berlin blockade.

“In response to the blockade of West Berlin by Soviet troops in 1948, the American airlift included 250,000 CARE Packages, more than half of all the humanitarian relief sent to the city” ^[29]Klein, Christopher. The First CARE Package. The History Channel. 11 May 2016. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.history.com/news/the-first-care-package ^[30]We’ve seen estimates ranging from 200,000 to 250,000

In 1950, aid began to Korea:

“In 1950, President Harry Truman urged Americans to donate parcels of food, clothing and blankets to those left hungry and homeless in the wake of the Korean War. “Every CARE Package delivered to a family in Korea, in the name of American donors, is proof of democracy in action to help its fellow man,” Truman proclaimed.” ^[31]Klein, Christopher. The First CARE Package. The History Channel. 11 May 2016. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.history.com/news/the-first-care-package

In 1953, the name was changed to “Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere”: “In recognition of its broadened service offerings and geographic scope, CARE changed its name in 1953 to the Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere.” ^[32]Care International. CARE’s History. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.care-international.org/who-we-are-1/cares-history

Since 1993, with other countries such as Canada and Australia having joined in the efforts, the acronym CARE now means “Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc.”: “In 1993, in an effort to reflect the wider scope of our programs and impact, CARE changed the meaning of its acronym to “Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere”.  ^[33]Care International. CARE’s History. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.care-international.org/who-we-are-1/cares-history ^[34]”Nine other industrialized countries have founded CAREs under the confederation of CARE International, a global movement reaching 68 developing countries.” Crowley, Carolyn Hughes. Aid in Small Boxes. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Magazine. 30 April 2001. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/aid-in-small-boxes-42294902/

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, about 20% of Americans were food insecure. CARE USA used its international expertise to partner with local organizations across the United States to help those people. ^[35]”It’s estimated that 10 percent of Americans were food insecure before the pandemic. Now Northwestern University researchers are saying that number is likely to double.” — Cerre, Mike. CARE packages helped Europeans during WWII. Today, they are helping Americans. PBS. 13 December 2020. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/care-packages-helped-europeans-during-the-war-today-they-are-helping-americans

Media coverage

Nelson Announces ‘World Mail Order House’ to Distribute Food in Europe. New York, Nov. 29, 1945. (AP). 

“Donald M. Nelson, former chairman of the War Production Board, announced today that 22 relief agencies had agreed to participate in a non-profit ‘world mail order house’ whereby Americans would buy food packages for distribution to European war victims.

The agencies, all affiliated with the American council of voluntary agencies for foreign service, have named their new organization the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (C.A.R.E.), Nelson said at a news conference. He has been named executive director.

Objectives of the cooperative ‘will be to sell without profit through a world mail order house a standard package of food to the American people for delivery to an individual, family or organization in a European country,’ Nelson said.

He added the organization would work close to UNRRA, avoid conflict and operate to supplement UNRRA relief.

‘This organization’, Nelson said, ‘which will be functioning before the winter is over, will give to the American people an opportunity to send to friends and relatives a package, standardized at 40,000 calories, weighing 40 pounds, to be sold for about $10.”

He declared that ‘we hop to work wherever war victims are in distress and be able to send packages to any place anyone wants to send one, if we can possibly arrange distribution. We will not accept an order unless we can make delivery, and any persons purchasing a package from the organization will be assured that it will reach the person or persons or organization for whom it is intended.’

Murray D. Lincoln, of Columbus, Ohio, president of the Cooperative League of the United States, was elected president of the new organization.” — Nelson Announces ‘World Mail Order House’ to Distribute Food in Europe. Glen Falls, New York: The Post-Star. 30 November 1945. Page 1, col. 6.

Relief packages may be sent through new organization. 17 May 1946

“A non-profit organization has been established for the purpose of transmitting food packages to Europe. It’s full name is Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, but following the alphabetical fashion of today, it will be known as C.A.R.E. Its headquarters office is located at 50 Broad Street, New York 4, New York. Its executive director is Lieut. General William N. Haskell, U.S. Army (retired) who directed Herbert Hoover’s American relief administration in Russia after the first world war and was of considerable assistance to Herbert H. Lehman in the organization of UNRRA.

“CARE will function under the auspices of twenty-four American agencies concerned with foreign relief; all are members of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Services. They include the Cooperative Leave of the U.S.A.; important Catholic, Protestant and Jewish welfare agencies; the two chief groups of American labor; and the principal agencies organized for relief in specific European countries.

The packages CARE undertakes to deliver to needy persons, groups or organizations in the European areas where its operations are authorized are known as ‘ten-in-one’ packages. They were originally designed to feed ten American combat soldiers for one day and so contain enough food for thirty meals on the basis of the high food values provided for soldiers in time of war. The standard specifications provided for an average of over 40,000 calories per package and the contents include meats, grains, cereals, vegetables, sugar, candy, fruits, cocoa, coffee, evaporated milk, butter, cheese, soap, chewing gum, etc. When ready for shipping, in a heavy-duty waterproof container, the weight of the ‘ten-in-one’ package is 49 pounds. The entire cost to the donor of such a package is $15.00. This covers contents, packing, shipping and delivery to the addresses. Care packages are exempt from foreign customs duties and rationing regulations. CARE will not operate in any country until an agreement has been reached on these two points. There are five different menus in the ‘ten-in-one’ packages.

The procedure for sending a CARE package abroad is for the purchaser to fill out a food remittance application blank and mail it, together with a certified check or money order, to CARE, 50 Broad Street, New York 4, New York. The application blanks are available at many banks; they will also be distributed through many fraternal and social organizations; the Jewish Social Service Association, 2218 N. Third Street, has blanks which will be furnished upon personal request.

To provide speediest possible delivery, orders will be sent by Air Mail whenever feasible to CARE’s overseas representatives who will make delivery from stock piles in its warehouses abroad. If the parcel is delivered safely the donor will, in due course of time, receive a return receipt. If at the end of 120 days after receipt of a remittance order CARE’s overseas representatives are unable to locate the beneficiary or if delivery for some other reason is impossible the full dollar payment will be refunded to the donor.

Orders for food packages are now being accepted by CARE for Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Poland. Furthermore, negotiations are at present being conducted with the governments of Austria, Bulgaria and Greece; it is expected that agreements will be completed any day now. Proposals have also been made to the governments of Yugoslavia and the USSR but as yet nothing definite has developed.” — Relief packages may be sent through new organization. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. 17 May 1946. Page 7, col. 1

Language Notes

“Care package” is now used generically in English, but it’s actually a registered trademark.

Further reading

CARE packages through the years

Parcels of CARE: How food packages from American relief organisation CARE eased starvation in Europe after World War Two. (BBC)