We have been closely monitoring the effects of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast and in particular western North Carolina. The images, videos, and stories from the region are hard to process, and we imagine you may be looking to provide support in a meaningful way.
As with any crisis or disaster that affects a part of our state or country outside our region, we rely on and refer to local partners best-equipped to know the nonprofits on the ground providing important relief and recovery efforts. The following community foundations have disaster relief funds that we recommend:
Additionally, there are a few other organizations we would like to lift up right now:
Recovery will be a long and slow process, and needs will shift as time passes. We will continue to update this blog post with recommendations for support as we learn more.
October 2nd Update
Our staff have and will continue to participate in coordination calls with other funders and intermediary organizations and groups helping translate on-the-ground needs to provide the most updated information on where support is needed most.
Two additional community foundations have activated funds in the region:
What we’ve heard this week:
- There are specific groups of folks with unique needs that intermediary and philanthropic organizations are responding to with specific disaster funds.
- RAFI USA – Farmers who have lost their crops.
- NC Arts Foundation Disaster Relief – Artists and arts organizations
- NC Counts Coalition – Includes a network of Latine-serving organizations in the West that will deploy resources to Latine communities in Western NC
- FEMA has begun taking applications for individual assistance including money for emergency housing, immediate recovery needs, and more. Legal aid organizations are ramping up their programming to support applications and appeals.
- Please do not travel to impacted areas without coordinating with local and state officials. Gas and water are in short supply and roads continue to be closed. There are opportunities to indicate interest in volunteering. (Note, volunteer opportunities are not guaranteed at this time.)
October 9th Update
We continue to be in touch with our colleagues at community foundations and nonprofits in western North Carolina, who are doing incredible work while dealing with their own challenging circumstances. They are reporting (as are news outlets) about rampant disinformation hindering relief efforts. We recommend the following sources of reliable information:
- Blue Ridge Public Radio
- North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network
- Enlace Latino NC (Spanish language site)
Another community foundation in the region has activated their disaster relief fund in support of hurricane recovery: