We’ve all seen the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. Images of unprecedented flooding destroying homes and businesses across the southeastern states have dominated cable and streaming news channels, not to mention our social media feeds.
As of Oct. 1, a reported 130 people lost their lives due to the storm, with hundreds more still unaccounted for. Many small towns in rural areas of states such as North Carolina and Tennessee are cut off, left without power, water, cell phone service or a way to access help. The cost of this storm will number in billions of dollars.
And though help from FEMA may be on the way, people in these areas have immediate needs for everything from clean water to cleanup supplies to a hot meal, not to mention a shoulder to cry on. To answer these needs, disaster support services from agencies such as the Red Cross and The Salvation Army are on the ground seeing to those needs, but they in turn need help.
If you’ve been moved by the images you’ve seen and want to help support disaster relief in those areas, here’s a listing of locally and nationally based organizations that are on the ground offering help, and ways to donate or volunteer.
The American Red Cross
As of Oct. 1, the Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross had 25 local people deployed in the states of Georgia, Florida and Tennessee assisting with hurricane relief.
“Every day it goes up and up,” Nia Rennix, executive director of the Central and Western Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross, said of the boots on the ground aid the chapter is sending to assist with Hurricane Helene.
Rennix said individuals who wish to make a monetary donation should visit the state website, https://www.redcross.org/local/massachusetts.html, and click on the red “donate now” button.
Be sure to select Hurricane Helene from the “I want to support” dropdown menu under the online donation box to ensure your monies go to hurricane disaster relief.
“If you can’t donate financially, you can donate your time. There are many areas where you can support our mission. We even have virtual deployments,” Rennix said, adding she was virtually deployed during the Maui wildfire.
“There are lots of ways you can help. Fill out the form online and someone will call and help you find the right volunteer role for you,” Rennix said.
The Salvation Army
The Massachusetts Chapter of The Salvation Army has four individuals, all from eastern Mass., deployed in conjunction to Hurricane Helene disaster relief, according to Emily Mew, director of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services in Massachusetts.
One, Capt. Enmanuel Villegas, currently stationed in Lynn, has ties to the Springfield area, having been posted in the Pearl Street citadel in the past, according to Heather MacFarlane, director of communications, marketing and public relations for The Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Divisional Headquarters.
MacFarlane said her office is “hoping we can get some updates but [the deployed members] are in harsh conditions with no electricity and cell service” right now, so they will have to wait.
Information on the organization’s national website indicates that as of Oct. 1, The Salvation Army, in cooperation with Southern Baptist Relief Kitchens, had served 43,294 hot meals, provided 10,877 meal kits, 34,998 drinks and 20,053 snacks from 61 active mobile feeding units in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Salvation Army has also provided emergency relief supplies to rescue workers and survivors as well as emotional and spiritual support to 2,829 people.
To donate to the relief work of The Salvation Army, visit https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/- or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
“When you go to the website or call there’s something that’s actually unique,” MacFarlane said. “They can give by credit card, or if their company has a matching gift program there’s a space that says matching gift. It walks them through the options.
“People sometimes ask, ‘Can I give through Venmo and PayPal?’” MacFarlane continued. “And there are ways through various Salvation Army websites that you can give in these ways. We try to make as easy as possible, just like the Red Kettle.”
Those interested can also donate to support Hurricane Helene disaster relief by mail by sending a check to The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301. Mark the check Hurricane Helene relief.
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. According to its website, CCUSA’s Disaster Response Team and local member agency staff mobilize quickly, responding with aid on-site — shelter, meals, water, emergency funding, disaster aid application assistance and more — and following through during recovery to help rebuild lives and restore hope.
The website also states that “100% of donations go to helping those affected by this disaster (Hurricane Helene).
For more information and to donate visit https://tinyurl.com/mwcfvn4c.
United Church of Christ
According to its national website, “The UCC Appeal for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts (https://support.ucc.org/hurricane-helene-relief) invites people to offer monetary contributions toward hurricane relief, and/or to join volunteer efforts with Crisis Cleanup phone banking — which allows people to remotely assist with connecting crisis need to relief services — and for assembling hygiene and cleanup buckets.” (https://cwskits.org/assemble-kits/emergency-cleanup-buckets/)
If a monetary donation isn’t possible right now, you can still help by volunteering for the UCC Crisis Cleanup Phone Bank. The Crisis Cleanup Phone Bank “is a collaborative platform that helps match people who need support with their house and property after a disaster, with those who are willing and able to do that work. It is staffed solely by volunteers, and they need support doing these intake calls to ensure that those who have been impacted have a chance to sign up to receive support with their houses. This can be done from anywhere in the United States.”
Computer access, basic computer skills and your time are the only requirements necessary.
For more information on this volunteer opportunity visit https://tinyurl.com/2e38fsz3.
The Humane Society of the U.S.
People are not the only victims of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. The website for the Humane Society of the U. S. reports that the nonprofit has its Animal Rescue Team “deployed to multiple locations across the Southeastern United States to help people and animals in need following the absolute devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. We are transporting animals to safety and helping devastated shelters, as well as providing food, resources and veterinary care to hard-hit communities.”
Individuals interested in donating to the Humane Society’s Emergency Animal Relief Fund to assist in Hurricane Helene animal care can do so at https://tinyurl.com/9ukwyuux.
