Jennifer Garner has urged people to "be their own first responder".

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner

The 45-year-old actress - who has Violet, 11, Seraphina, eight, and Samuel, five, with her estranged husband Ben Affleck - works as an ambassador for Save the Children, and has encouraged people to get involved with the charity by helping in whatever way they can, as she believes it will help restore people's "faith in humanity".

She said: "Sponsor a child through Save, do a book drive, donate diapers. Just help in some way. Be your own kind of first responder. It will restore you and your faith in humanity."

As part of her work with the children's charity, the 'Miracles from Heaven' actress - who has worked with the organisation for nine years - travelled to Houston, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey which devastated the city in September, and recalled the story of a young boy who saved his mother's life.

She explained: "One boy told me how his mom had put the kids in a kiddie pool in chest-high waters, and she had gone under because she couldn't swim. He'd said, 'Throw Mama a rope!' and saved her. Instead of saying, 'We lost our house, all my toys are gone,' he wanted me to know that his mom was okay. That spirit makes you really appreciate the good in the world."

Whilst in Houston, Jennifer was able to see Save the Children's Journey of Hope scheme in action, which teaches children how to address any trauma they may have experienced.

Speaking to People magazine, the '13 Going On 30' star said: "It may sound like a small thing, but I've watched it in action. Seeing those kids talk about their feelings in a way that they never would have was the highlight of the year for me."