FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, MO – (September 22, 2025)— As hurricane season intensifies across the U.S., Heart to Heart International (HHI) will distribute Healthcare Worker Emergency Kits to equip frontline health workers with the essential tools they need to continue providing care during and after disasters.
More than 3,000 free and charitable health clinic workers operating in communities vulnerable to hurricanes and severe weather events will receive kits beginning in September, Disaster Preparedness Month. These kits were developed to help the helpers through a combined project with HHI and J&J CareCommunity, a global social impact platform from Johnson & Johnson championing nurses and community health workers to advance access to quality care around the world.
Each kit contains practical items that support clinic staff in maintaining health and hygiene in emergency conditions. Beyond the physical supplies, the act of preparedness itself offers a profound mental health benefit. Contents include:
- N95 Masks
- Head Lamp
- First Aid Kit
- Seatbelt Cutter/ Window Punch
- Multi-Tool
- Emergency Whistle
- Insect Repellant
- Nitrile Gloves
- DripDrop Oral Rehydration Solution
- Charging Cable
“Health clinic workers are often the first and last lines of defense for underserved communities during disasters,” said JP Fisher, Director of Disaster Management for Heart to Heart International. “Thanks to Johnson & Johnson Foundation, these kits ensure that clinic staff can continue delivering care when it’s needed most—without compromising their own safety.”
The kits are being distributed through HHI’s nationwide network of partners, including clinics affiliated with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC). States prioritized for distribution include those most at risk for Atlantic hurricane impacts, such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
This initiative builds on Johnson & Johnson’s long-standing commitment to disaster preparedness and HHI’s deep expertise in rapid response logistics and healthcare delivery in crisis zones.
“Our goal is to stand with the communities that face the brunt of natural disasters year after year,” said HHI Senior Vice President of Programs Tenagashaw (Tena) Tiruneh. “Together with Johnson & Johnson Foundation, we are providing not only supplies but also a message of solidarity and support.”
PHOTO AND VIDEO DOWNLOADS
Please visit our DropBox Folder to download hi-res images of the disaster kits and contents, headshot photos for JP Fisher and Tena Tiruneh.
To learn more about HHI’s Disaster Response Program, visit: Disaster Response. For additional programs aimed at improving health access locally and globally please visit: www.hearttoheart.org.
Heart to Heart International is a nonprofit international health organization with its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. Since its inception in 1992, HHI has delivered medical aid and supplies worth $3.2 billion to more than 130 countries, including within the United States. HHI responds to natural disasters both domestically and internationally by supplying medical relief and mobilizing volunteers. The organization is a 4-star Charity Navigator charity, a BBB Accredited charity and is on the "Philanthropy 400." To learn more, visit hearttoheart.org.
Media Contact:
Andrea Wilson Community Engagement Specialist
M 816-674-1897 | Andrea.Wilson@hearttoheart.org
11550 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
hearttoheart.org