Hurricane Helene Relief

Many state and regional governmental and nonprofit organizations are collecting donations and mobilizing teams to help our friends and neighbors in Western NC who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please see the compiled list of ways to help and contribute below, and feel free to reach out to tourd@jacksonvilleonline.org to share info on other ways to help that we can share. #NCStrong

At this time it is encouraged for people not to travel in or to Western North Carolina, with all roads to be considered closed and non-emergency travel prohibited due to impassable or destroyed roadways, and closures in place to help rescue, recovery, and relief efforts. Please visit DriveNC.Gov for updates.

Please consider making a financial or needed material donation, volunteering, and/or donating blood. 

Donations:

• North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund at NC.Gov/Donate. Governor Roy Cooper is encouraging donations for the fund. Donations for the fund will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of people needing food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies.
• The Community Fund of Western North Carolina has created a fund to help aid those affected by Helene.
• United Way has created a fund to help those affected by Helene. Find out more and donate via their website.
• American Red Cross – You can visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation. People can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation. Individuals in unaffected areas are being asked to donate blood and platelets now to help ensure patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood. If you need to find a shelter, there is a link for active Red Cross shelters and a page devoted to reuniting loved ones.
• The Salvation Army is accepting donations and mobilizing disaster response teams. Donate and find out more on their website.
• Operation Airdrop coordinating and collecting money, donations, and volunteers, as well as aircraft access to assist in relief efforts.
• GoFundMe has launched a hub for Helene relief that includes some North Carolina fundraisers.
• NC Community Foundation
• Manna Food Bank Asheville
• BeLoved Asheville
• Appalachian Voices
• Yancey and Mitchell Counties Flood Relief
• Foothills Food Hub
• Charlotte Community Care Collective
• Pender County EMS & Fire

Volunteer:

• Baptists on a Mission– Volunteers are putting teams together to serve those affected in North Carolina as conditions allow. The group is accepting donations and looking for volunteers.
• Samaritan’s Purse- With headquarters in Boone, they are currently scheduling volunteers to help homeowners with the destruction in the city. Find out how you can help.
• North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster list or find a group to volunteer with. There is also a national directory with organizations that are helping.

If you have donations, equipment, or have questions about specific needs, please email helenedonations@buncombecounty.org. If you want to volunteer, please email helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org.

Seeking Info on Locating Loved Ones, Shelter, Food, or Financial Assistance and other Resources after a Disaster:

• USA.gov/Hurricane-Helene– for information about financial assistance and housing following a disaster
• American Red Cross– for a list of shelters that are open
• ReadyNC.gov– for a list of shelters that are open
• NC Department of Public Safety

The Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina

FFA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster caregivers and providers statewide, and is currently working to provide immediate aid to those who have lost everything.

Some of the ways FFA is providing tangible relief include:

• water
• food
• hotels
• formula
• gas gift cards
• other needs as identified

Get more information on their website.

Things to Remember When Donating

Disaster officials remind you that if you want to donate, do it through a disaster relief organization or the government. They publish lists of needed items.

• Only give items when they are requested
• Only give items that are on the list of requested items
• Do not send items directly to the affected area

DisasterAssistance.gov provides information about finding loved ones. You can also get information on this through the Red Cross.

Health Needs

If you are in a personal crisis and need someone to talk with, you can call the Crisis Line at 988. If you are not in an immediate crisis, but need someone to talk with, you can call the North Carolina Warm Line: 1-855-733-7762.

LME/MCOs, or Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations, are the best contacts for most mental health and developmental disability services. See a county-by-county list.

For Help Locating Someone

NC 211 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina and supported by local United Ways and public and private partners.

Calling NC 211 after Helene passes: Lifeline helps with disaster response, resources

People trying to connect with family members can call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. People can also call those numbers to report missing loved ones.

WRAL News has begun compiling a list of people who are safe. You can see that full list by clicking here.