BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s trail of destruction, the residents of Asheville, North Carolina, are in a dire predicament. Despite being more than 300 miles inland from the coast, the storm devastated this lively mountain community, leaving a trail of wreckage, power outages, and displaced citizens. As officials scurry to distribute supplies, the need for assistance is critical. Here are a few things you can do right now to help the victims of Hurricane Helene.
1. Donate to reputable organizations
If you’re not in the immediate area but want to make a meaningful impact, financial donations to disaster relief funds are one of the best ways to provide support. Several groups are now focusing on assisting victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
The United Way Helps NC Fund is exclusively focused on aiding residents in the aftermath of this disaster. Donations go directly to critical necessities like food and water. Contributions can be made online, or checks can be sent to United Way of NC at 1130 Kildaire Farm Rd, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511.
In addition, the Red Cross continues to be a reliable disaster relief organization, assisting individuals in need with shelter, food, and other necessities. In a statement, Duke Energy mentioned that thousands of workers are “working tirelessly to assess damage and make repairs,” but the road to recovery will be long. Many residents trying to reconstruct their lives, and your donation can help relieve the load.
Local groups, such as Manna Food Bank, which assists needy populations in Western North Carolina, have also suffered significant consequences. The hurricane devastated the food bank, and it is looking for donations to help it get back to serving the community as quickly as possible.
2. Foster an animal in need
For those who live in or near North Carolina and want to provide direct assistance, fostering a displaced animal is a great way to help. The Asheville Humane Society is working feverishly to locate temporary homes for animals affected by the hurricane. Local shelters are overcrowded, and fostering a pet could help alleviate some of the burden.
Even if you are unable to foster, donations to assist cover the costs of food, transportation, and materials are much appreciated. Pets are often overlooked in the commotion of natural catastrophes, but this is a simple method to make a significant difference for both the animals and their worried owners.
3. Donate essential supplies
Local businesses and breweries in North Carolina have stepped up to gather much-needed goods for the Asheville community. Bottled water, diapers, new socks, toiletries, and underwear are among the most important products, all of which are in limited supply.
Wooden Robot Brewery, a local organization, posted a thorough list of the most needed items and drop-off locations to Instagram. They stressed the importance of these donations, stating, “Right now we’re urging for emergency donations—the waters, the baby needs, hydration packets, toiletries, new socks, and underwear—the things you notice FIRST when they’re gone.”
If you can gather supplies or drop off donations, this is a perfect chance to assist families who have lost everything in the storm.
4. Offer to deliver meals or spread the word
With many communities still without power or internet, communication has become a major impediment to ensuring that everyone has access to food and supplies. Organizations like the Salvation Army are providing hot meals to those in need, but with limited communication, it is critical to spread the information. Posting information on social media or informing affected residents about where they may get food is critical right now.
In addition to bigger organizations, local businesses are stepping forward to assist. Indian Aroma Bistro in Hendersonville, for example, is providing boxed lunches and is looking for volunteers to assist with their delivery to people in need. If you live locally, helping out in this way might make a big difference for families who are struggling to get food.
While Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation, the people of Asheville and North Carolina are resilient, and recovery is possible with the support of those both near and far. Whether you can offer money, time, or materials, every contribution helps the community get one step closer to rebuilding.
