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    • Here’s how you can help those affected by last week’s storm
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    Here’s how you can help those affected by last week’s storm

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    Since making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday, Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage worth at least tens of billions of dollars, analysts say.

    The deadly storm hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph before moving north through Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas and weakening into a post-tropical cyclone. Helene left behind severe storm surges, catastrophic flooding and wind damage, and millions of power outages. The death toll exceeded more than 100 people.

    The images and videos coming out of hurricane-ravaged cities are hard to watch, from completely flattened homes to residents fleeing the storm surge. This is how you can help those affected by Helene’s anger.

    What is the best way to help those affected by Helene? Give money

    The most effective way to help victims is through monetary donations, as this is the quickest way to help those in need. It immediately gives local charities the flexibility to purchase the materials they need.

    While there is often an urge to send water, blankets, food and other items, charities are unwilling to handle the logistical nightmare of organizing, sorting, storing and distributing physical goods. When you donate money to trusted charities, the money goes where it’s needed, to the places where it’s needed most.

    Charities also often receive volume discounts and, when possible, purchase items in the disaster area to support local economic recovery. There may be a time when items are needed, but in the beginning it’s about money.

    Which national organizations are helping victims of Hurricane Helene?

    American Red Cross: The Red Cross is always one of the first groups and probably the best known relief organization in the world, providing food, shelter, supplies and emotional support to crisis victims. There are already hundreds of workers and volunteers in Florida and have opened dozens of shelters for evacuees. You can take part in the regional group’s Helene aid measures.

    GoFundMe: GoFundMe fundraisers for people affected by Hurricane Helene are already piling up on this popular crowdfunding website that connects you directly to people who need help. This can be a great way to help people in need and give face to the person you’re donating to, but it can also be an easy way to get scammed. Read the campaigns carefully. GoFundMe has set up a special hub for verified Helene requests. The company also has its own Hurricane Relief Fund that you can donate to, which provides cash grants to people who need help.

    The Salvation Army: Another group that responds quickly during disasters: The Salvation Army provides food, drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care, and other emergency services to survivors and rescue workers. You can donate to Helene efforts online.

    United Way: The United Way has launched a fund to help people affected by Helene. Local United Way organizations are also accepting donations to support relief efforts, both for short-term problems and to continue helping residents later. You can find your local chapter on the organization’s website.

    World Central Kitchen: When a disaster occurs, Chef José Andrés is on site with his teams to set up kitchen facilities and begin serving thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can help by donating on their website.

    Baby2Baby: Baby2Baby specifically supports infants and children affected by Helene and has sent over a million emergency aid items such as diapers, formula, blankets and hygiene products. You can donate here.

    Feeding lion: The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation donated $1.5 to support communities affected by Helene. Customers are asked to donate at checkout by October 30 to provide food, water, non-perishable snacks, gift cards and other supplies.

    There are also many other organizations that offer specialized care and assistance:

    All hands and hearts: This volunteer organization works with local residents to help rebuild schools, homes and other community infrastructure. A Helene fund was founded.

    America: Americares focuses on medical assistance, helping communities recover from disasters through access to medicines and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies. To help the victims of Hurricane Helene, Americares has set up a donation page.

    CARE: Provides assistance through emergency cash assistance to families in underserved communities. Donate to her Helene Fund on her website.

    Direct relief: Direct Relief provides long-term medical assistance specifically needed by local officials and agencies. The organization just provided more than $74 million in medicines and medical supplies to healthcare providers in the path of Hurricane Helene, according to an email. You can donate to the general fund or select “Hurricane Helene Response” from the drop-down menu on the donation page.

    Global giving: This disaster relief charity provides immediate post-emergency assistance to people, animals and frontline workers and helps displaced families, but also offers long-term assistance with a focus on local organizations. Donate to the Helene Ida Fund on her website.

    International Medical Corps: This organization works with state agencies and local health care providers to provide critical care and medical care. Donate to the Helene Fund listed on the website.

    Mutual disaster relief: A grassroots disaster relief network committed to providing direct relief to underserved communities who are often left out. Donate at mutualaiddisasterrelief.org.

    Operation Blessing: This group works with emergency management and local churches to bring clean water, food, medicine and other supplies to people with immediate needs in disaster areas. Donate to her Helene Fund on her website.

    Save the children: This organization is committed to getting child-friendly supplies into the hands of families most affected by the storm, including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes, as well as classroom cleaning kits for schools and helping to restore child care and early learning centers. Donate to the Children’s Emergency Fund.

    Humane Society of the United States: The Humane Society of the United States is helping communities with animal needs following the devastation of Helene and is encouraging people to donate to its Emergency Animal Relief Fund.

    From Florida to North Carolina: Check out regional disaster funds to donate to

    Florida Disaster Fund: Distributes donations to service organizations helping people with disaster relief and recovery in Florida.

    The Community Foundation Tampa Bay: This local group maintains its own list of local charities that can help address urgent needs, or you can donate to the Tampa Bay Rapid Response Fund, which distributes money to nonprofits in the community that respond to emergencies.

    Georgia’s Disaster Fund: The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is collecting donations.

    An SC fund: Directs donations to local nonprofits in South Carolina that provide disaster relief and recovery, according to a spokesman for Gov. Henry McMaster.

    North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: Distributes donations to service organizations that assist people with disaster relief and recovery in North Carolina.

    Virginia’s disaster fund: The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is collecting donations.

    How do I ensure that victims receive my donation?

    Unfortunately, in the same devastating emergencies that so many people want to help with, there are always scammers looking to take advantage of your money. Before donating to an unknown charity, check them out.

    A simple method: Search Google for the name of the charity and the words “scam” or “scam.” You can also research them at one of the organizations that rate charities: Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (give.org), Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), Guidestar (guidestar.org), or CharityWatch (charitywatch.org).

    The Florida Department of Agricultural Services has its own toll-free hotline to check charities at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or you can use the Check-A-Charity tool to complete registration and Review financial information.

    What kind of donations are particularly desired in the following months?

    For those who want to donate other items and supplies in addition to cash donations, experts recommend waiting a few weeks so that the government and nonprofits can figure out which recovery priorities have been funded and which have not.

    Because donations tend to decline after initial media attention ends, these later donations will go toward resources that are still desperately needed in the weeks following the disaster.

    During last year’s Maui wildfires, AP cited examples of people who donated furnishings, useful when families have been permanently relocated. However, because people lived in temporary shelters at the time, they were not useful and storing them caused costs and problems for nonprofit organizations

    I want to help personally. Is it recommended to go to hurricane-affected areas to help?

    Do not go to places where there is storm damage unless officially requested.

    There are disaster response teams and trusted organizations for this, and random volunteers, while theoretically welcome, do not have the security or medical training to help with disaster response and may put a strain on resources needed by locals.

    There will be local health experts, Red Cross volunteers and first responders on site. Check with them to see how you can help.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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