How you can help Hurricane Helene victims

Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel on Oct 2, 2024

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Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida last week as a Category 4 storm, bringing damaging winds and catastrophic flooding to the state’s Gulf Coast before wreaking havoc in other southeastern states. Some of the worst devastation from the storm — blamed for more than 160 deaths across the South — was in North Carolina.

If you want to help those whose homes, livelihoods and communities were destroyed by Helene, donations can be made to a number of national charities and state-supported relief funds.

The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is managed by United Way of North Carolina, which will distribute the money to nonprofits that are working to get victims food, water and emergency supplies.

“There is a massive effort underway to get help to the people of Western North Carolina including state and federal relief, but we know there will be additional needs,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press statement.

The Florida Disaster Fund, activated by Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of the storm, is working with nonprofits to distribute food and household goods and help with home repairs.

The American Red Cross has people throughout the Southeast working to provide aid to those hit by the storm. Shoppers at Publix Supermarkets can also tack a Red Cross donation onto their grocery bill when they checkout.

The Salvation Army has people dispersed across the Southeast, according to Natasha Player, public relations manager for the nonprofit’s Florida division. It is providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers in five states struck by Helene, she said.

“When people see the shield, we want them to see hope,” Player said.

World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit started by celebrity chef José Andrés, provides meals to people devastated by natural disasters and global conflicts. The organization has teams distributing meals to hurricane victims in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has sent close to 100,000 pounds of food to the Tampa Bay area and the Big Bend.

“Families are going to need food assistance for weeks or months before they can get their feet back underneath them,” said Greg Higgerson, chief development officer for Second Harvest of Central Florida.

To help Florida victims, Higgerson suggested making donations to Feeding Tampa Bay or Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend. To help people across the Southeast, he suggested donating to Feeding America.

The Humane Society of the United States is distributing pet food, cat litter and other animal supplies and has set up mobile veterinary clinics in communities impacted by the storm. In just one day in Madison County, in the state’s hard-hit Big Bend region, the nonprofit distributed enough food to help 300 families with pets, according to Kristen Peek, a public information officer.

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