Impact Your World - Special Reports from CNN.com

Take action! When disaster strikes or horrible events unfold, these are opportunities to effect change. Bad things happen in the world every day. But good can result and one person can impact the world.

REFUGEES & HOMELESSNESS	People live without a home or struggle as their homelands are in turmoil

TAKE ACTION • UNHCR • CARE • World Education • National Alliance to End Homelessness • Covenant House • More ways to help: REFUGEES \| HOMELESS

Ways to Impact Your World every day

Past Highlights
	Support for veterans The nation recognizes veterans on November 11, but with the recent shootings at Fort Hood, troops are in our minds more than ever. This Veterans Day, explore ways you can help families of the nation's troops and also veterans returning home and from past wars. Veterans In Focus How you can help: • Metroplex: Ft. Hood Family Relief Fund • Veterans for America • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America • Veterans of Foreign Wars • AMVETS • Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) • ReMIND • Fisher House • Honor Flight • Welcome Back Veterans • Other military charities
	Saving the past CNN's Brooke baldwin shows us one organization that's trying to help the world's poor by preserving the past.Video How you can help: • Global Heritage Fund
	New weapon against malaria A professor from Georgia has come to Africa, armed with an invention to help in the fight against Malaria. Video How you can help: • Afro-European Medical and Research Network (AEMRN)
	A plea for Katrina victims In September 2005, Charles Evans was 9 years old and one of the thousands seeking shelter in New Orleans' convention center in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After years of different homes and FEMA trailers, he is now back in the Ninth Ward, living in an unfinished house on a street lined with abandoned, boarded-up homes and buildings. He is just one of the many young people in New Orleans who still need help as the city and region continues to recover. Full story How you can help: • Operation Kids • The Roots of Music • Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana • Greater New Orleans Foundation • United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area • Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans • Greater New Orleans YMCA • Save the Children
	Volunteer crew hopes to spread healing The Floating Doctors' mission is to provide medical relief in developing countries in an environmentally friendly platform. It will not rely on airplanes, shipping supplies or ground transportation -- instead, the mission relies on a towering white boat to maneuver through waterways in Haiti, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Full story How you can help: • Floating Doctors
	India faces long recovery from flooding Hundreds died and more than million were displaced after India was hit with its worst flooding in decades. The waters have receeded now but that has not relieved the hardships that are expected to persist for months or even years. Helping with relief efforts How you can help: • World Vision US • World Vision India • UNICEF US Fund • UNICEF India • ActionAid UK • ActionAid India • CARE UK • CARE India • Direct Relief International • Operation Blessing International
	Quakes devastate Indonesia More than 600 people died and massive devastation and rubble remains after a pair of devastating earthquakes rocked Indonesia. Full story \| Helping with relief efforts How you can help: • World Vision • Save the Children • Singapore Red Cross • MercyCorps • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies • CARE • Direct Relief International • Operation Blessing International • Catholic Relief Services • Global Giving • International Medical Corps • More ways to help with Natural Disasters
	'Darius Goes West' Darius Weems hits the road in search of a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disorder that involves rapidly-worsening muscle weakness. Video \| Blog How you can help: • Darius Goes West • Charley’s Fund
	Flooding submerges parts of Philippines Back-to-back tropical storms hit the Philippines with its heaviest rainfall in more than 40 years, killing more than 300 people and leaving thousands without homes. And another storm on the horizon has prompted new fears of additional destruction. Full story How you can help: • Americares • World Food Programme • UNICEF • ShelterBox • OxFam • Direct Relief International • World Vision • Operation Blessing International • Catholic Relief Services • Compassion International • The Philippine National Red Cross
	Scores dead in Samoan tsunami Towering tsunami waves triggered by an 8.0 earthquake left more than 100 people dead in the Samoan islands. Entire villages are flattened or submerged. "I thought it was the end of the world," said one official. Full story How you can help: • Australian Red Cross • New Zealand Red Cross • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies • American Red Cross • AmeriCares • ShelterBox • Oxfam New Zealand • MercyCorps • Global Giving • Save the Children
	Giving Afghan women hope For centuries, some women have been considered property in Afghanistan – not equals, like the constitution states. They are often beaten, raped and even sold to the highest bidder. There are very few places women can turn to. But now some organizations are providing help for the women who don't even know they have rights. Full story How you can help: • Women for Afghan Women • Women for Women International • Vital Voices Global Partnership
	Southeast flooding Devastating floods killed nine people in Georgia after days of torrential downpours. Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency in 17 counties, with flood damage estimated at $250 million. President Obama has declared a major disaster and made federal funds available in several Georgia counties. Full story \| Drowning mother's plea \| Flood changes everything How you can help: • American Red Cross • Atlanta Red Cross • Salvation Army • Samaritan Purse • Operation Blessing • Lean on Me • Grace to the Nations
	Guatemala food crisis Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom has declared "a state of public calamity" to help mobilize funds and resources to confront a food shortage. Guatemalan authorities say thousands of families in the Central American country are dangerously short of food due to adverse weather, poor soil and the troubled global economy. Video How you can help: • Compassion International • SOS Children's Villages UK
	Elephants find peace in sanctuary From the big top to the hills of Tennessee, retired elephants find an unexpected place to call home. Full story \| Video How you can help: • The Elephant Sanctuary
	Drought, death grips Kenyan heartland Successive years of failed crops, drought and erratic rains in Kenya mean that millions are facing the same stark reality. The World Food Program (WFP) says that, together with the Kenyan government, they will need to feed 3.8 million people across the country. Full story How you can help: • World Food Programme • Oxfam International U.S. \| U.K. • SOS Children's Villages
	After the storm Four years after Katrina, what is New Orleans like now? Some residents continue to face challenges as the Big Easy keeps trying to rebuild. In Depth: After the Storm How you can help: • Americorps • The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation • Operation Kids • St. Bernard Project • Presbyterian Disaster Assistance • Habitat for Humanity • Make It Right • Rebuilding Together • Greater New Orleans Foundation • Foundation for the Mid South
	Returning to Swat Valley Families are returning to the battle-ravaged Swat Valley, but the relocation has created a crisis where the refugees are struggling to rebuild their lives in this devastated region. Girls find safe haven to learn How you can help: • UNICEF • OXFAM International • UNHCR • ICRC • MercyCorps • Save the Children U.S. \| U.K.
	Typhoon ravages Taiwan Typhoon Morakot unleashed its fury in Taiwan and mainland China and caused some of the worst flooding in a half-century. How you can help: • American Red Cross • IFRC • World Vision • Tzu Chi Foundation • Global Giving • Direct Relief International • United Way of Taiwan • Shelterbox
	Help for veterans Explore ways you can help families of the fallen and also veterans returning home. iReport: Memories of the fallen How you can help: • Iraq and Afghanistan veterans of America • Veterans of Foreign Wars • AMVETS • Veterans for America • Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) • ReMIND • Fisher House • When Duty Calls • Welcome Back Veterans • More ways to help

Take action on the news you consume! These resources include some of the highest-rated charities by CharityNavigator.org (an independent and non-profit organization that evaluates and rates thousands of charity groups based on effectiveness and financial stability) and are vetted by CNN journalists for credibility. CNN does not endorse any organization and information is provided as an inspiration for you to explore the best ways for you to impact your world.

CNN NEWSROOM
The CNN Newsroom Team shares Impact stories and opportunities where you can make a difference. This week: Orphaned baby elephants struggling to survive the Kenyan drought and the remarkable foundation raising them through this fragile stage.
• More from the Newsroom blog

LARRY KING LIVE
On the air and on his blog, Larry King Live offers the spotlight for many of his guests to champion great causes. In a LKL Web Exclusive, David Arquette shares his experiences volunteering with Feeding America.
• Larry King Live Blog • Feeding America

TAKE ACTION: VOLUNTEER

You can make a difference by offering your time. These organizations will help you find a cause that inspires you and fits your schedule. Recent grads turn to national service

• Serve.gov
• Corporation for National and Community Service
• Volunteering in America

• Charity Guide
• VolunteerMatch
• USA Freedom Corps

• Have a question or comment? Contact CNN's Impact Your World