Supporting families and communities

The core strength of everything LiveDifferent does is centered around authentic relationships where we learn from and are encouraged by each other.

We first partnered with communities in developing countries to build homes so families could get the security and care they need. But the more closely we worked with the people of these communities, the more we understood how unexpected challenges bring about additional hardships to families and communities working hard to get ahead.

That’s why we created the Emergency Relief and Community Development Fund.

Emergency Relief and Community Development Fund

It’s thanks to our enthusiastic volunteers that this fund has been brought to life! Seeing volunteers over-fundraise for their Build and wanting to do more, we knew we could use these funds to help meet critical needs while also investing in long-term sustainability.

Through the Emergency Relief and Community Development Fund, we’re able to have a timely and ongoing positive impact in local communities. Funds continue to be replenished by volunteers over-fundraising for Builds, as well as direct donations from our generous donors.

While working with local leaders, government officials, community members and organizations, we are able to:

Respond to immediate needs

There are always unforeseen challenges that arise, so we use this fund to meet the immediate needs of the families and communities we work with. Some of these challenges include restricted access to medical care, food insecurity, school fees and funeral costs (costs which can total to one years’ worth of wages).

Assist with community initiatives

We invest in projects that can help strengthen the community as a whole. This fund has been used to make repairs and upgrades, and build recreational facilities, roads, bridges and water cisterns.

Provide emergency relief

Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and major storms often cause a lot of damage to houses in the community. This fund is used to help make repairs and provide supplies to rebuild after a disaster.

Case Study: The Pancho Family and COVID-19

LiveDifferent volunteers have helped give families a fresh start over the years, and these families have spoken about how having a new home has resulted in them being less stressed and more physically healthy. Many also shared how they were able to put rent money towards their children’s education as a result.

While it’s been amazing to hear of the positive impact that having a home has had on their lives, it was also clear that many of them were still struggling — and those with children seemed to be hit the hardest.

Without any safety nets or paid sick days, households like the Pancho family could do little as they watched their earnings drop significantly while facing increased financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pancho, who has diabetes, was temporarily laid off to protect his health and received only half of his usual income from his employer. However, their weekly food budget increased because his four children that had been receiving a free hot lunch program at school were now at home doing remote learning. Pancho also needed to increase the size of his phone package to include more data so that his children could receive and send their homework assignments.

Through the Emergency Relief and Community Development Fund, LiveDifferent was able to ease the burden by providing much-needed food packages to them — and over 100 other families in Mexico!

How can you help?

By donating directly to our Emergency Relief and Community Development Fund, you can help give families and communities the support they need to not only survive, but to thrive.

Even a small donation can make a huge difference in the lives of those struggling to get by – $50 has fed a family for a week, $30 has provided limb-saving medical attention and $80 has given a mother the medicine she needs to care for her family.

Become the change a family needs to transform their lives for the better, and visit our Give a Little, Love a Lot page to donate.