How You Can Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Late Thursday evening, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Perry, Florida, along the state’s panhandle. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it hit with wind speeds of up to 140 miles per hour, making it a Category 4 storm and ranking among “the most powerful to strike the United States.” Its path of destruction stretched on for more than 600 miles through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Associated Press reported, as of Monday, the death toll rising above 100 people. 

Authorities, the AP added, are now hard at work trying to get food and supplies to those in the storm’s wake. However, they are struggling to reach many communities that are now isolated due to the destruction of roads and flooding. 

“We need food, and we need water,” Avril Pinder, the Buncombe County Manager, shared with reporters on a press call. “My staff has been making every request possible to the state for support, and we’ve been working with every single organization that has reached out. What I promise you is that we are very close.”

The recovery will take weeks, months, if not years. But there are ways for you to help. Here’s how you can assist the people affected by Hurricane Helene now and well into the future. (And if you live in the affected area, stay up to date on the latest information by following FEMA’s guidance here.)

Southern Smoke Foundation

Southern Smoke’s mission is to take care “of our own by putting dollars directly into the pockets of food and beverage workers when it’s needed most.” The nonprofit specifically assists those in the food and beverage space to pay for essentials, including groceries, clothing, and medications, along with covering rent, natural disaster damages, and lost wages. Applicants can apply for assistance if they are currently employed within the food and beverage industry, working at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of six (6) months. Donate to the cause or apply for funds here.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is always at the forefront of disaster response, and this time is no different. The team is already hard at work delivering meals to people in need across four affected states, including Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The team is also specifically in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the hardest-hit communities in this storm’s path. See its full list of locations here.

Feeding America

Feeding America’s network of food banks are mobilizing to provide emergency food relief in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Their local branches across Florida (Via Feeding Florida), Georgia, and the Carolinas are distributing food and essential supplies to families right now. You can choose to donate directly to the parent program or its local chapters or use its Find a Food Bank feature to donate goods directly.

Greater Good Charities

Greater Good Charities is also on the ground, providing life-saving supplies, food, water, along with hygiene products to communities impacted by the storm. The group is also delivering pet food to families with animals to ensure everyone is taken care of as best they can.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is providing immediate relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Helene, including setting up shelters, distributing food, and providing life-saving medical care. The organization is also dedicated to the long haul and will continue to support communities through the clean-up phase and provide those in need with mental health support through the long journey to come.

GlobalGiving Hurricane Helene Relief Fund

GlobalGiving has set up a dedicated fund for Hurricane Helene support, which will be distributed to local nonprofits working on the ground for both immediate and long-term relief. Donations assist with essentials like shelter, food, and water, as well as recovery efforts to rebuild communities.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team is also actively involved in Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Its team is on the ground, providing food, shelter, and other means of support. It, too, has set up mobile kitchens to serve meals in areas cut off from regular services, including its Florida division, which the charity noted “has an Incident Management team and 14 mobile feeding units, each capable of feeding up to 1500 meals per day.”

Direct Relief

Direct Relief is providing medical assistance to communities impacted by the storm, including providing emergency medical supplies, health kits, and medications to shelters and health facilities. As the charity explains, it’s already provided assistance to more than 50 “safety net healthcare providers” and counting.

Mercy Chefs

Mercy Chefs, a faith-based organization, is also providing chef-prepared meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders. The group has mobilized its mobile kitchens in several Florida locations and noted its en route to Asheville now. As the charity notes, all donations are tax-deductible, and “just $3.50 can help deliver a hot meal to someone in need.”