Herbalists Without Borders™ is a 501 (c) (3) ​Nonprofit & NGO Organization
​Herbalists Without Borders is 100% volunteer operated - so donations go directly where needed most!

US COMMUNITY APOTHECARY | Current Status | SHIPPING DONATED SUPPLIES 
​Updated 9/1/23

Help Us Re-Stock our Supplies!

HWB is a small, grassroots nonprofit that relies on community support and donations to help us achieve our goals and to support community herbalism and holistic wellness disaster relief in communities. Providing funding is a direct way to support HWB projects, but we also welcome donations of herbal first aid supplies, extracts, dried herbs, and more to help us get down to the ground green medicine to the people.

HWB has a US mutual aid network where we intake donations at our US Community Apotheca/Donation space, and then distribute out to free clinics and for HWB community outreach (unhoused care packs, for example) throughout the US. We ship boxes every Monday, and so greatly appreciate all of the amazing donated goods we distribute to those serving communities in need. Thank you!
Are you a small to large herbal maker, herbal business owner, supplement manufacturer, herb growers, or herbal product producer that is interested in making tax-deductible herb and product donations to HWB? Any amount helps! Email director@hwbglobal.org. Thank you! 

Are you a home grower with extra dried herbs to share, or that wants to share some of your garden bounty? We accept donated supplies into our mutual aid system as long as they are clearly labeled, dated, and sourced, as well as not expired. Thank you!
Herbalists Note: 
 Products follow laws and good manufacturing procedures in labeling, please. Products should be marked/labeled clearly and neatly with botanical name, common name, date, part used, source (ie: my yard or xxxx company), fresh or dried, lot number if applicable, menstruum type & % (brandy, vodka, grain alcohol, glycerine, etc. + % menstruum), and ratio (1:2, 1:5). 
Please know that if any herbs, salves, or extracts come in that are not able to be identified clearly or are questionable - we will not be able to use them. THANK YOU for taking the time to do this prep so that your valuable donations can be used immediately. 
​Questions? Email usdonationnetwork@hwbglobal.org. Thank you!

​We are unable to accept opened/used tinctures/extracts, capsules or bottled supplements, as we have no way to ensure sanitation or check for contamination. We do accept properly labeled stock GMP compliant tincture bottles from herbal apothecaries, formularies, & schools. We also accept unopened and unexpired individual tinctures, vitamins/supplements, herbal products, syrups, salves, etc. Thank you for understanding that those we serve deserve the best!
TIPS FOR SHIPPING DONATED SUPPLIES: 
  • ​If sending dried herbs, please send in airtight packaging with the proper identification. Labels should include plant name, botanical name, source, year harvested, any lot/batch number, and weight. 
  • We cannot accept anonymous donations of bagged herbs or products, as we then cannot guarantee the source and safe handling. Please include your name and return address on any packages (this is kept private, but is on our inventory record and Lot/Batch system). 
  • Salves should be clearly labeled and individually packaged in small containers. 
  • Please baggie any items that can melt in transit​. 
  • Please label following labeling laws, and using clear printed information. Any unlabeled items or unreadable labels are not usable, and we hate to see good supplies go to waste.  Thanks for understanding. 

Currently Supporting:

Maui Disaster Response
Fall/Winter Immune Support
Fall/Winter Care Kits
Free Clinics & HWB Projects
Preparedness initiatives
Can you donate supplies? See below. 
See our US Donation System in action. (Click on the images to see a larger version).
Please ship HWB donations to:
PLEASE EMAIL OFFICE@HWBGLOBAL.ORG FOR OUR DIRECT SHIPPING ADDRESS.
​We don't publish it publicly so we don't just get random anonymous donated supplies that are expired, opened, are too large or  or in quantities we cannot manage within our shipping budget or by the time they would expire.  Thanks for understanding! 

We are shipping out to many groups this year including for smoke response, disaster relief, hurricane support, Maui relief, free clinics, community outreach, unhoused care kits, self care packages, and more. We need more supplies!

This list changes often based on needs lists provided by free clinics, and what donations have come in - check back soon! We are always in need of adaptogens, nervines, cough/cold/immune support, skin, nourishment. If it isn't on the list, it doesn't mean we don't have a clinic that could use it - we just have some items always on wish lists. 
Tinctures (alcohol & glycerites welcome);
So many groups are distributing self care kits, wellness kits, and other bulk community care packets, so we are currently only accepting tinctures that GMP compliant with printed labels meeting all labeling criteria (not handwritten) in 1, 2, or 4 ounce bottles. These are the easiest to share, and meet the liability requirements of public health organizations we are partnering with to distribute support. Alcohol-free is also always welcome, for serving communities that do not want or do not use alcohol. In general, if you legally sell tinctures as a business, we will accept your new properly labeled tinctures. Thank you!

Dried herbs

We are always in need of dried herbs. HWB Chapters, Projects, Members, and herbal businesses donate dried herbs and herbal products, which we gratefully accept. We do welcome all unexpired and properly labeled dried herbs. If you don't see what you have on here, it doesn't mean we won't use it. We just have certain common herbs that are always in high demand and always short of, so those are listed here!

Current Highest Needs: updated for Fall/Winter 2023

We accept all properly packaged and labeled, not expired herbs, but here are some we are always in need of and that we always keep on our list, while other items change based on need/season. We will welcome all herbs, but some are always high on the list. *= high need/most requested, +see below
Agrimony
Angelica root
​Arnica
Astragalus root*
Ashwagandha root*
Asian Medicine Herbs+
Ayurvedic Herbs+
Baikal Skullcap
Barberry root/leaf
Bilberry
​Birch bark
Blackberry leaf
Calendula
Cardamom
CA Poppy*
Catnip*
Chamomile*
Chicory root
Cinnamon chips, powder, sticks
Citrus - orange peel
Cramp bark
Damaiana
Dandelion Root
​Dong quai
Echinacea (leaf, flower, root)*
Elder (berry, flower)*
Eleuthero root
Eucalyptus
Garlic, dried
​Ginger root/powder
Hawthorn - berry, leaf, flower*
Holy Basil, Tulsi (all types)*
Horehound, White
​Horsetail
Hyssop
​Kudzu
Lavender buds
Lemon Balm*
Lemongrass
Lemon verbena*
Licorice Root
Linden*
Marshmallow leaf and root
Mimosa bark & flower​
Motherwort
​Mugwort
Mullein leaf*
Nettle leaf, root
Oat tops, oat straw*
​Orange Peel*
Passionflower*
Peppermint*
​Raspberry leaf*
Red clover*
Red root
Rhodiola*
Rose petals
Rosehips*
Sage
Schisandra berries*
Self heal
Skullcap, all types
Slippery elm
Thyme
Uva Ursi*
Violet
Wild yam
Yarrow
​Willow Bark
Wood Betony
Mushrooms*
Cordyceps, reishi, turkey tail, and decocted/extracted mushroom supplements or whole dried mushrooms are always high need. Any immune support mushroom blends are wonderful!
CONTAINERS
We are always In need of new jars, tins, dropper bottles, stock bottles, kraft tea bags, wax lined coffee bags, muslin baggies, lip balm tubes and tins. See our amazon wish list for more specific needs. 

TINCTURES
We have a high need for singles/simples and blends in individual and stock bottle sizes. Unopened/new tinctures only, thank you. Formulations that are high need include stress, sleep, cold/flu, respiratory support, digestion, blood sugar support, pain support, anti-inflammatory, etc. Tinctures are always high need .

ESSENTIAL OILS
We are always in need of unexpired good quality pure essential oils for trauma support, respiratory support. We make batches on demand of inhalers, chest rub, sprays, muscle rub, infused lotions, etc. twice a month and ship to free clinics. We are in high need of individual single essential oils from sustainable sources. 
 
HYDROSOLS 
We welcome hydrosols for first aid kits, child safe herbal support, sprays and other herbal support. Hydrosols are gentle and can be used in sprays, chest rubs, and steams. 

SPRAY/SUNSCREEN/BUG BALM
We also welcome herbal bug sprays, sunscreen, itch ointment, etc. for unhoused folks, refugee situations (or post disaster) and care kits. 

COLD AND FLU SEASON 
Throat sprays, lozenges, natural cough drops, syrups, 

TOOLS
Our donation distribution space always is in need of tools to manage our inventory and weigh/bag/label items. We are in need of a new scale, capsule maker, a garbling screen set, a butter/oil infuser, spice grinder that can handle roots, etc.  
CARRIER OILS/WAXES
We also are always in need of carrier oils, beeswax, epsom salts, butters, aloe, and other carriers that are used to make topical products. 

INFUSED OILS
Arnica, plantain, comfrey, St. John's Wort, and other infused oils are needed. We also make our own, so the herbs and carrier oils in large sizes are needed. 
​
CHILDREN
We are always in need of Children's packaged and sealed herbal products.  Booty balm, herbal bug sprays, kid safe cough syrups. New/sealed products only, please.

SUPPLEMENTS (NOT EXPIRED, NOT OPENED)
We welcome unopened/unexpired donations of supplements - high needs always include mushroom blends, respiratory support, immune support, gummies (elderberry, multivitamins), rescue remedy, EmergenC, etc. We prefer expiration dates that are at least 4-6 months away. We cannot always move items that expire immediately and do not have the capacity to dispose of expired items, nor do we want to waste them. 

NEED

Do you  have extra (new) aromatherapy containers? We need blank inhalers, rollerballs, fliptop lotion bottles, etc. We intake donated essential oils that we use to formulate and make into ready-to-go aromatherapy products at our US Donation hub, and ship them out to HWB Free Clinics and Community Outreach. We make hundreds per month, and always need containers! Thank you!

We make chest rub, rollerballs, inhalers, sprays, etc. with a focus on stress, anxiety, sleep, trauma, pain, respiratory support. 

What We Usually Need Most By Clinic Type:

COMMUNITY RESPONSE CARE KITS: Due to COVID many are hosting free clinics with additional safety protocols,  or, for the unhomed or displaced, creating self care kits with GRAS items and immune/wellness support that are distributed to all to help reach those that don't feel safe in person or who do not have access otherwise. Things we need include cough drops, chest rubs, tea bags, cough & wellness support syrups, vitamin D, hand balms (unhoused folks get cracked hands and feet in the winter), children's vitamins (we have adult), mushroom support, electrolyte powder packets, sample size toothbrush/toothpaste, emergency blankets, individually wrapped tea bags, masks, etc.

​ For those operating virtual clinics, we are in need of the anti-inflammatories, antivirals, demulcents, herbs for respiratory support and steams, etc. THANK YOU!
​
RESPIRATORY/COLD/FLU/VIRUS: immune support, anxiety, upper respiratory, tea blends, masks, throat sprays, sleep support
FIRES: upper respiratory support, eye wash herb bags, immune support, masks, throat sprays, sinus rinse, nervines, inhaler sticks
HURRICANES: nervines, respiratory support, antifungal support, salves, masks (mold clean up), immune support, bug spray, itch ointment
EARTHQUAKES: nervines, salves, calming extracts
TORNADO: nervines, salve, bruise balm, calming aromatherapy, calming teas
FLOODS: nervines, respiratory support, antifungal support, salves, masks, immune support, bug spray, itch ointment, calming
REFUGEES: antifungal,  upper respiratory support, salves, skin support (scabies, rashes, blisters), nervines/anxiety support, bug bites
VETERANS: calming, anti-anxiety, nerve pain, joint pain, anti-inflammatories, blood sugar support
CHILDREN: digestive health, calming, cough/cold, nutrition, diaper rash, salves, sunscreen, kid-safe bug spray
UNHOMED: salves, chest rubs, antifungal support, immune support, nervines, small cough syrup bottles, non-breakable containers, small portable sizes, items that won't melt/leak easily, bug spray, sunscreen, cooling herbs (summer) warming herbs (winter)
RURAL OUTREACH: blood sugar support, nervines, cough/cold, immune support, digestive support, healthy cholesterol and blood pressure support
Community work after disasters or events always need nervines, calming, stress relief, support for anxiety, etc. 
COMMUNITY EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT: supplies to make tea blends, salve, infusions, etc. 

GLOBAL DONATIONS: Local Chapters, Clinics, Community Apothecaries

Are you interested in finding a local Chapter/Clinic/Project to donate directly to? Many nations and global Chapters also accept donations of supplies for their free clinics, outreach, community support work, etc.  Visit our Find a Chapter page to search for a group local to you in your country - and reach out to the Coordinator to see what the local needs are. YOu can also email the office and we can connect you to a local group to you. THANK YOU. 
https://www.hwbglobal.org/find-a-chapter.html

Why ship to our Wisconsin distribution network base? 

​Often right after a disaster, people are scrambling to get supplies and volunteers coordinated, trying to find out what they need and when. When random items are shipped en masse, not only do relief workers have to intake, sort, verify safe/labels and organize - they also need to figure out what they have so they can make or assemble kits of what they need - all while they are scrambling to respond and get to the people that need them most. Once it dies down, they often have a LOT of leftovers and no time or funds to ship them to someone else - not to mention storage of all of the extras was not likely optimal (dry, climate controlled) during the response. Also, often by the time donations are collected, packed, and shipped from donors, the response is winding down. We want to be ready in advance, so we can mobilize support to local chapters and members quickly.

We also have many Chapters hosting frequent free clinics and getting donations into one central place where we can work to fairly divide to reach the most people and clinics is an amazing system. We can store the supplies in a climate controlled area, ship only what folks need and can use, and reduce waste and storage logistics. We also ship to clinics monthly or on a regular schedule so they don't have to manage a lot of inventory and we can adapt and send what is needed seasonally. Many people think HWB is large with expansive staff and a warehouse - we are not. We do this in a donated space at a small farm using volunteers!

At HWB we work to intake supplies here. We inventory, sort, and store in climate controlled location. We prep most needed items here, we can ship immediately as soon as there is a disaster or a clinic need. We also ship what is needed, and extras are kept for the next disaster or free clinic or need. We can also share just how much is needed, so one donation might serve several groups. Some groups can get donated supplies locally, and that is great. But some groups can't get enough or cannot get donated supplies due to the community they serve, location, or needs. By having a central donation distribution network, we are redistributing supplies in an equitable and accessible way to all that need them. 

This saves time, reduces waste, and helps the organizers focus on the people they serve in their communities. In addition to shipping for disasters we also support and empower local people to continue working in their own local communities long after aid organizations have gone and we ship a few times a month to many community clinics, projects, and chapters around the US.



HWB encourages and offers technical support for groups to create mutual aid reciprocity based systems of support in all nations where possible. If you are in another country and interested in donating, please contact the office and we can connect you to any local HWB networks. ​

Are you a business looking to donate supplies or become a corporate sponsor?
Make a tax-deductible donation today!
​
​Contact Jocelyn at director@hwbglobal.org


​Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.
~Ryunosuke Satoro