A Chapter-Based Mutual Aid & Donation Distribution Model

Disaster image of flooding

Herbalists Without Borders (HWB) is a global nonprofit organization that provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid to communities impacted by natural disasters, conflicts, and crises. Our disaster response efforts are centered around a chapter-based mutual aid model and a dedicated US-based donation distribution network, ensuring that support reaches those in need quickly, efficiently, and with respect to their cultural traditions.

Herbalists Without Borders (HWB) is dedicated to disaster relief and health justice through mutual aid models that empower communities in crisis.

In the face of natural disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian emergencies, our approach prioritizes equitable access to care, focusing on those most in need by mobilizing local chapters and global volunteers.

HWB provides holistic health solutions, including herbal care, wellness supplies, and self-care resources, tailored to each community’s unique needs.

Through mutual aid and grassroots collaboration, we are making a real impact, ensuring that relief efforts are driven by solidarity, compassion, and the preservation of cultural healing traditions.

Supporting Coordinators On The Ground

In the aftermath of a disaster, local HWB coordinators may face severe limitations such as power outages, lack of clean water, sanitation issues, or even a shortage of storage space for supplies.

Recognizing these challenges, HWB uses a dedicated space to intake donated supplies, process them, and distribute exactly what is needed to support affected communities.

This dedicated HWB space allows us to:

delivery guy unloading a pallet of herbal donations

Intake & Organize Donations

Herbal remedies, wellness products, first aid supplies, and other essentials are collected from donors and stored in a controlled environment to ensure quality and usability.

herbal aromatherapy inhaler tubes being labelled

Prepare & Label Products

We create and label products like tinctures, teas, salves, and self-care kits, following best practices to ensure everything is ready for immediate distribution. This process meets labeling standards and ensures consistency, safety, and quality.

Packaged care packs

Ship Tailored Supplies

We communicate closely with coordinators to understand their immediate needs. Whether it’s herbal remedies, first aid supplies, or other wellness products, we ship exactly what they need when and where they need it most. This reduces waste and ensures efficiency during a time when every resource matters.

A Working Model Of Response

With HWB handling the intake, preparation, and distribution of supplies in our dedicated space, we reduce the burden on local coordinators who may be facing overwhelming challenges.

Instead of having our coordinators create products themselves, which may be impossible due to lack of resources, they can focus on serving their communities directly and immediately.

This centralized support allows HWB to:

  • Ensure Equitable Distribution: Supplies are distributed based on need, reaching the most impacted areas efficiently.
  • Reduce Waste: We only send what is necessary, reducing the chance of oversupply or misdirected goods.
  • Maintain Best Practices: Our dedicated space allows us to follow proper protocols for making, labeling, and shipping herbal and wellness products, meeting legal requirements and ensuring quality.

This model ensures that local HWB chapters can remain focused on providing direct care, whether through mobile and walk-in clinics, self-care stations, or other relief efforts, and ensures that the right supplies get to the right places, allowing our teams on the ground to focus on the people they serve.

Disaster Responders

How can I help?

Donations go directly to support the disaster initiatives and response. We purchase containers, carrier oils, and supplies that we need but have not received in donated supplies. We purchase label refills. We purchase supplies needed when requested by Coordinators. We ship boxes weekly directly to Coordinators. And, we provide microgrants when possible to help get extra support as infrastructure returns. 

Your donations directly support disaster response and aid.

What if I want to donate supplies?

HWB accepts physical donations of herbal and mutual aid supplies.

Before shipping anything to our address, please read our manual, “US Donation Network Supply Donation Guide.”

VISIT OUR CURRENT DONORS AND SPONSORS

HWB is a 501c3 nonprofit organization domiciled in the US, and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.