During the holiday season of 1947, with BVA not even yet three years old, members of the Association and their families helped the people of war-torn Europe through CARE, an acronym at the time for “Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, Inc.”

CARE sent millions of packages from the United States for delivery to friends, relatives, and specified groups or persons in Europe. It was a government-approved service composed of 27 relief agencies and the only nonprofit opportunity through which Americans could send personal help to any designated individual in Europe with delivery guaranteed.

CARE packages at the time cost $10 (equivalent to $138 in 2023) and options for the contents included nonperishable food items, blankets, knitting wool, and household linen. The process for helping was rather simple: fill out an order form, obtain a money order, and send both to CARE in New York City. BVA members were encouraged at the time to send packages to a blinded veteran or a blind civilian in a foreign country. Source: December 1947 BVA Bulletin