Support Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

As those in Florida assess the damage from their second hurricane in 13 days, and we continue to see the impact of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, we understand the depth of desire to help. Please explore this page for updates and new information on ways you can help.

There are a multitude of ways both individuals and churches can help. What’s most helpful is to respond to the needs as requested by those on the ground in affected areas, and to use the distribution channels being organized or already in place. Please do not self-deploy. This is a request from every organization with whom we have been on calls and in contact with.

Response status in western NC differs county to county. Some counties remain in the search/rescue/lifesaving stage, while others have begun the first steps of the recovery stage. Conditions continue to change throughout every day, and traveling to the area on your own right now can actually hinder response efforts. This situation is incredibly complex and unlike any faced before; please be patient and give the certified and authorized responders on the ground the space and time they need to put in place the infrastructure and systems that will facilitate wider response efforts. See here for FEMA's recommoendations for donating and volunteering after a disaster.

We will continue to update this page as often as we have updates, resources, and information on relief efforts. Updates to this page will be shared in News & Notes.

Hurricane Helene Appeal Letter from Bishop Skirving

Click the graphic above to read Bishop Skirving's letter about Hurricane Helene relief, or click the button below to the read the letter:

Click Here to Read Bishop Skirving's Letter

Financial Donations

Donations to Affected Dioceses

To give directly to the relief efforts of dioceses in impacted areas, please see the instructions below. We are sharing links for giving directly to those dioceses in areas most affected by Helene and Milton.

• Diocese of Western North Carolina: To direct your funds toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of Western North Carolina, select “Partners in Mission” from the dropdown menu and include "Helene" in the memo line. Alternatively, you can give online via this link to give as a member of the Diocese of East Carolina.
• Diocese of East Tennessee: To direct your funds toward hurricane relief in the Diocese of East Tennessee, give to the 2024 Flooding Relief fund as directed on the page.
• Diocese of Georgia: To direct your funds toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of Georgia, you can give to the Bishop's Fund; the money raised in the Bishop's Fund will go directly to disaster relief in the diocese. Alternatively, you can text "EDOG Relief" to 73256 to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
• Diocese of Florida: To direct your funds toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of Florida, you can click the button to "Make a Gift" and select "Other" from the dropdown menu and include "Hurricane Helene" in the memo line.
• Diocese of Southwest Florida: To direct your gift toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of Southwest Florida, simply give to the "Hurricane Relief Fund."
• Diocese of Central Florida: To direct your gift toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of Central Florida, give to the "Disaster Relief Fund."
• Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast: To direct your gift toward hurricane relief for the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, give to the Hurricane Helene Response/Recovery/Relief efforts.
• Both the Diocese of South Carolina and the Diocese of Atlanta request that funds be directed to Western North Carolina or Episcopal Relief and Development.

Donations to Relief Organizations

Having financial resources to respond is one of the most critical needs from those most impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, especially our friends in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. One of the the best ways to help is to provide responding agencies with the financial resources they need. We encourage donations to:

• Episcopal Relief & Development: The disaster response team is in contact with the dioceses in all affected areas. Funds collected will be used for long-term relief efforts as well as emergency grants, which are for churches in affected areas that are in a position to respond to needs in their local community. “Your gift will provide our partners on the ground with critical supplies, such as food and water, pastoral care and other urgent needs. You’ll also help us assist with the long-term efforts needed to rebuild and heal.” Donate to ERD's Hurricane Relief Fund

• American Red Cross: Working with officials and community partners, almost 1,400 Red Cross disaster workers are focused on providing shelter, food and comfort to thousands with more help on the way. In addition, the Red Cross has deployed more than 45 emergency response vehicles to get help to where needed and about two dozen more are enroute. Where it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster responders are driving these vehicles throughout affected communities, assessing the damage and distributing meals and relief supplies.” Read more | Read about the American Red Cross response in North Carolina | Donate to the American Red Cross

Donations to the Diocese of Western North Carolina

It is clear that our help is most needed in western North Carolina, and we are inviting the individuals and congregations of this diocese to consider making gifts that will directly support the relief work of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. You can send a check to our Diocesan offices marked “Western North Carolina” or make an online donation using the link provided below. As the funds come in to us, we will pass them on directly to the Diocese of Western North Carolina.

Click Here to Give Online to Support Helene Relief Efforts in Western North Carolina

Ways to Help Beyond Donations

Pray

Those in affected regions are overwhelmed and exhausted. They need your ongoing prayers. Pray for all those impacted by the storm, for their safety, and for strength in their recovery. We also invite you to gather in your congregations and communities to pray for healing and hope in the days ahead. Episcopal Relief & Development has offered some liturgical resources for use in services and other channels.

Stem the Tide of Misinformation

There is a great deal of misinformation going around relating to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, especially on social meda. As you can imagine, it makes the job of those responding that much harder. Help stem the tide of misinformation; get your information from trusted resources, and verify any information you share is from a reliable source. Some reliable sources to consider:

• NC Department of Public Safety (page dedicated to Hurricane Helene relief efforts) | Information links by county
• FEMA (page dedicated to Hurricane Helene)

Item Collection

We know how good churches are at collecting items needed! Today, though, in lieu of item collection, please consider a financial donation to those agencies in a position both to purchase the items most needed AND deliver them to affected areas. Many areas are reporting they are at capacity in terms of storing donated items but will need to be replenished at a later date.

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina offers a central donation link to give to a disaster response fund that gives to food banks in NC counties impacted by Helene. Their Hurricane Helene response page shares more information. Consider, too, that your local food banks have continued needs, especially those also responding to Hurricane Helene. Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina has locations in Greenville, New Bern, and Wilmington.

Item collection will be needed in the coming months, and we will update this section to share information on items needed and where to deliver them as the infrastructures are put in place.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers will be needed in countless capacities for a long time to come. A few things to consider:

• Recovery efforts have begun in select counties. If you feel a call to volunteer in impacted areas, you’ll need (at least in these early days) to be working through an agency authorized to be there. Many are gathering volunteer information for both immediate and future needs. Please see the agency list below and contact them directly if you wish to serve. There are two key reasons you'll need to go through an organization:
  • By doing so, it helps to keep efforts organized and prioritized.
  • It is for your safety. The organizations will know who you are, where you are and the work you are doing. They are working in areas where need is great, but risk to responders has been reduced. They also will supply you with the necessary information you'll need to be prepared, which, in turn, will also ensure local resources are not depleted trying to support responders.
• Support local initiatives. There are countless nonprofits, organizations and networks across NC working together to support our siblings in western NC, and they need your gifts, too. Supporting those doing the work in your local area does help those in the western part of the state! Remember, too, local organizations are expending resources for hurricane relief and might need help replenishing those resources to continue their work serving local communities.

There will come a time when volunteers and work parties will be welcomed into western North Carolina. We will do our best to encourage opportunities for our people to participate in these sorts of efforts. There will be lots of opportunities for us to serve our neighbors in need, and we will update this section to share information and opportunities when the time comes.

American Red Cross: If you are seeking an opportunity to volunteer, the American Red Cross has volunteer opportunities.

Additional Relief Information Resources

• Diocese of Western North Carolina: Hurricane Relief Hub
• Diocese of Western North Carolina: Asheville Relief Facebook page
• Blue Ridge Public Radio (ongoing list of organizations and needs in Western NC)