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As the response to Hurricane Helene continues and the recovery intensifies, countless local fundraisers have been organized to provide donations to Western North Carolina residents in need.

“The impacts of this disaster have come into sharper focus and have created a strong desire among North Carolinians to help our neighbors in need,” said Will Ray, North Carolina Emergency Management Director. “The effort is ongoing around the clock to get these supplies to all communities impacted by this storm. We are grateful that people are willing to help and encourage them to donate in ways that are most useful to the affected communities and those working on the ground to help them.”

How to donate

The best way to help Western North Carolina recover is with a monetary donation. North Carolina has established the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, administered by the United Way of North Carolina. Donations can be made at www.nc.gov/donate and will be used to provide grants to nonprofit organizations working directly in affected communities.

Other reputable charities are also raising money to support Helene relief, including North Carolina Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (www.ncvoad.org/members). VOADS are verified nonprofit disaster relief organizations that, in coordination with state and federal agencies, provide relief supplies and services to people in need in North Carolina.

“Financial donations provide volunteer and faith-based organizations the greatest flexibility to meet urgent needs,” said Kristy Kulberg, president of NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. “With cash in hand, these organizations can obtain needed resources closer to the disaster site. This influx of money also pumps money back into the local economy and helps local businesses recover faster. Although the need is great and the desire to help is strong, it is important to avoid in-kind donations or relief efforts until communities are safe and officials and disaster relief organizations have had a chance to assess the damage to determine the specific unmet damage Identify needs.”

For tips on giving safely to charities and avoiding charity fraud, contact the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office at ncdoj.gov/charity. Report a scam at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or ncdoj.gov.

Supplies are being distributed to the hardest hit areas

Food, water and other basic needs are being delivered by both land and air to people in the hardest hit communities. More than 1,000 National Guard members are working day and night to distribute life-saving resources, conduct search and rescue operations, clear roads and restore infrastructure. To date, more than a million pounds of supplies have been distributed by Guard members by land and air.

Volunteer organizations support mass feeding operations with bulk deliveries of food and water. The State Emergency Response Team is also working with private ground and air assets and trusted disaster relief organizations to assist in the distribution of humanitarian supplies. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has deployed more than 1,200 personnel to North Carolina to assist with recovery and relief efforts.

What about donating and delivering relief supplies?

People collecting supplies from outside the storm-affected areas are asked to collect them but not attempt to deliver them to Western North Carolina on their own. Needs vary from area to area and can change rapidly, and uncoordinated efforts to deliver supplies can disrupt ongoing rescue and relief efforts. If you’re donating supplies, make sure it’s a legitimate effort and watch out for scams.

Efforts are currently underway to establish additional locations for the collection of donated supplies. Information will be provided as it becomes available.

Travel conditions remain dangerous across much of western North Carolina and people from outside the region are asked not to drive to the area alone. More than 400 roads remain dangerous, many of them impassable and designated only for local and hurricane response traffic. Available routes should be reserved for ongoing emergencies, including search and rescue operations.

Airspace is also limited due to ongoing air operations by the North Carolina National Guard. Private pilots should coordinate with Lindsay Duke at 828-851-0777 before conducting humanitarian assistance missions in Western North Carolina.

Volunteer Opportunities

Recovery from Hurricane Helene will be a long-term process and the help of volunteers will be needed in the coming months. For your own safety and to be as helpful as possible, volunteers should work through an organization and not send on their own initiative. If you are interested in volunteering, you can register at nc.gov/volunteernc or www.unitedwaync.org or contact one of the NC VOADS (www.ncvoad.org/members).