Direct Relief breaks ground on new warehouse, headquarters

One of the largest charity organizations in the United States will soon have a new place to call home.

Direct Relief, which distributes humanitarian aid to communities in need, broke ground on a new 155,000-square-foot facility and headquarters in Santa Barbara on Thursday.

The new construction is being billed as the nation’s largest accredited distribution hub for humanitarian aid and the largest construction project in Santa Barbara in nearly 20 years.

When finished, the new facility at 6100 Wallace Becknell Rd. will be nearly four times the size of the organization’s main location in Goleta.

In a press release, Direct Relief said the new facility will utilize cutting-edge distribution technologies which will transform the way the organization mobilizes medical aid.

Direct Relief also announced a $40 million fundraising campaign to complete and endow the new facility. The organization has already received $25 million in contributions from various corporate partners and private donators.

The new building will keep Direct Relief in Santa Barbara, where the organization has been headquartered since its founding in 1948.

You can read Direct Relief’s entire press release here .