On Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, devastating communities along the state’s Gulf Coast before making its way inland across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
At the time of this post, at least 110 people have died as a result of the storm across six states. Roadways, homes, and businesses have been completely wiped out.
Helene was particularly devastating in communities like Asheville, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee and left many people stranded without food, power, internet, or cell service.
The loss of life and impact on the communities in Helene’s path is unfathomable — and both the immediate and long-term needs are vast.
If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you want to help and care about making a difference for those who’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene.
You’re in the right place. When we see tragedy like this happen in the news, it’s important to not tune it out. Instead, pay attention and truly feel the heartbreak of it — then, look for and be inspired by the people stepping in to help, and use that energy to make a difference ourselves.
Looking for the helpers
Instead of turning away from tragic events like the devastation from Hurricane Helene — we look closer for people stepping in using what they have, where they are, to make a difference for others.
Inspired by Mister Rogers’ famous quote, we call them the “helpers,” — and they’re usually found wherever there’s bad news in the world. Hurricane Helene is no different. Here are some people, businesses, and organizations helping right now:
- Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen teams are serving thousands of meals to communities in need — from Mexico, and the Big Bend of Florida, and into Appalachia.
- Volunteer pilots with the Port City Aviators Flying Club are flying supplies to storm victims in western North Carolina.
- The national Disaster Distress Helpline is providing free multilingual crisis counseling to those in need.
- Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that supports food & beverage workers in crisis, is providing financial support for groceries, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
- Volunteers with veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon are on the ground in Greenwood, South Carolina clearing roads of trees and debris.
- A local library branch in Asheville, North Carolina served as a hub for community members in need of internet service.
- Workers at Waffle House were “unlikely heroes” providing food to people in need.
- A local Fox News correspondent stopped his live broadcast to help rescue a woman trapped in her car in rising floodwaters.
- Emergency response teams rescued more than 50 staff, patients, and caregivers from the roof of a hospital in Erwin, Tennessee.
- The SPCA of Brevard rescued 20 animals from Hurricane Helene’s path — and it’s now helping them get adopted.
How to make a difference
After we’ve allowed ourselves to feel the weight of the pain and heartbreak associated with bad news, and look for hope and helpers in the midst of it — we always have the opportunity to join in and make a difference, too.
Here are some ways to help — whether you’re local or far away:
Donate to national organizations
Here are just a few large-scale organizations that have helpers on the ground in the region.
Donate to local organizations
Local organizations, recovery funds, and mutual aid groups have been deployed across the states impacted by Helene. Find donation links and updates below:
All States:
- GoFundMe Hub for Hurricane Helene Relief
- Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
- Southeast Climate & Energy Network
- Convoy of Hope
- Appalachia Funders Network
- Americares
- Organizing Resilience
- The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Tennessee:
- East Tennessee Foundation
- First Aid Collective Knoxville
- RISE Erwin
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
North Carolina:
- North Carolina Community Foundation
- Hearts With Hands
- Manna Foodbank
- BeLoved Asheville
- Foothills Food Hub
- Haywood Christian Ministry
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Forsyth Humane Society
- Hope Mill
Volunteer locally
Organizations in the affected area are seeking volunteers to help distribute resources and support crucial aid efforts. While many of us are not local to the region, those who are nearby are encouraged to join in a myriad of volunteer opportunities.
(Note: If you aren't in the area, the best way you can help is by supporting local efforts with a donation. Keeping roads clear for rescue crews and local relief agents is vital in maintaining safety in these already devastated regions).
For local volunteers, check out:
Contact your elected officials and ask them to take climate action
Climate scientists agree, the intensity and extent of the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene was made worse by climate change.
While we can’t go back in time and burn less fossil fuels — we can make a difference now to secure a safer future and prevent future climate disasters.
In addition to talking about how this disaster is connected to climate change in our own conversations and holding media outlets accountable for how they talk about climate change — this is a great time to tell your elected officials that you want them to take meaningful climate action.
We’re making incredible progress in the U.S. and globally in reducing emissions, but we need to work even faster — and incorporate climate mitigation efforts into our plans — to limit the most severe impacts of global warming.
