What to Know Before Donating
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Cash is the best donation. It’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.
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Be wary of scams. Such as personal solicitations on your doorstep or over the phone. Make sure that gifts made by checks or credit card gifts are secure. And don't send money by text or using apps like Venmo without verifying the organization and contact information. If you don't want to donate online or by text, most organizations have alternatives, like donation forms that you can mail together with a check. Never send cash through the mail.
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Identify what is needed. Without thoughtful planning, donated goods can further burden a community that is already in crisis. Knowing what is needed, where it is needed, and getting it there at the right time is the key.
Consumer Alert
Avoiding Fraudulent Charities and Scams While Donating to Hurricane Relief
State Emergency Management Offices
The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is now accepting contributions for hurricane damage. Contributions help with the unmet needs of hurricane victims. Contributions are made online by secure link after you submit the webform below. If you have any questions, please visit there FAQs page To donate by mail, please send your contribution to: North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund 20312 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC.
Governor Kemp has declared a State of Emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia in response to impending Tropical Storm Helene. If you'd like to contribute financially to support the individuals in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Helene, we have compiled a list of counties where your donations will be greatly appreciated. To donate by mail, please send your contribution to: United Way of South-Central Georgia Post Office Box #557 Tifton, Georgia 31794.
A fund with the East Tennessee Foundation has been established to begin accepting monetary donations for impacted counties. For more information on the fund and how to donate visit the link below to the East Tennessee Foundation. To donate by mail, Please visit the Tennessee OEM website for information and locations.
Serving as the emergency response arm for the Hope Florida initiative, Activate Hope pulls together the private sector, nonprofits, and government resources to help Floridians get back on their feet following a natural disaster. Activate Hope helps connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs, and more. To donate visit the Hope Florida Foundation website.
Local Opportunities to Help
Packing Bucket Kits
Church World Service (CWS) needs more Clean-Up Bucket Kits: CWS, a Maryland VOAD member, requests your help to gather clean-up buckets.
Zach Wolgemuth, the CWS Director of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, reported that as of this morning, the organization has authorized/shipped “3,296 Emergency Cleanup Buckets valued at $247,200 and 4,360 Hygiene Kits valued at $65,400 to partners in the impacted region. Additional requests for kits and blankets are coming in almost daily. Unfortunately, the Emergency Cleanup Bucket inventory is less than 1,000 buckets in inventory.”
Can you put together bucket kits that can be sent to help survivors? More information is at https://cwskits.org/assemble-kits.
Kits can be delivered in Maryland at: Brethren Service Center Annex 601 Main St., PO Box 188 New Windsor, MD 21776
Monday-Friday 7:30 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 4 pm
Contact: Glenna Thompson (410) 635-8797
Crisis Cleanup (www.crisiscleanup.org) is a website tool and hotline used throughout the US. It connects disaster survivors who need property cleanup assistance with volunteers who can help. The hotline is staffed by volunteers like you who work from home as they have time. Survivors call the hotline, phone volunteers take the call, and enter the information on the website. Volunteer organizations claim cases, do the work, then close the case. Everyone is working from the same list which minimizes duplication of efforts and saves time, so more people get help. All services are free.
Download the full description to share with those interested to serve.
Email Gina Newby at gina@crisiscleanup.org for more information.
Additional Donation and Volunteer Information
For additional information on how you can donate or volunteer visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Website linked below. Here you can find additional voluntary organizations providing relief efforts to Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Donations Quick Links
Red Cross Update to " The American Red Cross is on the ground helping people who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Go to redcross.org/shelter to find a shelter or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) if you need assistance - 24 hours a day.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a devastating Category 4 storm, leaving widespread destruction across the Southeast. Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a major storm. Local Catholic Charities Agencies are ready to deploy and provide life-sustaining assistance after the storm passes.
Green Cross provides trauma relief to first responders, community members, and healthcare professionals responding to a disaster. Your donation helps cover the logistical expenses of sending volunteer team members to help during or after a crisis.
Our Animal Rescue Team is working tirelessly in multiple locations across the Southeastern United States to help animals in need following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
Armed with a fleet of cooks, mobile pits, kitchens, and volunteers, Operation BBQ Relief delivers the Healing Power of BBQ to disaster-affected communities, offering solace to residents, first responders, and relief workers.
The 2024 Hurricane Season has brought widespread devastation across the southern United States. The Salvation Army is responding to this historic season by providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers in five states. By making a financial donation, you help make all these life-saving services possible and empower The Salvation Army to bring hope to those in need.
Samaritan’s Purse is responding to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, with multiple disaster relief bases in North Carolina and Florida.
Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida, where residents were already reeling from Hurricane Helene, which impacted multiple states, including Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. Millions of families are without power and dealing with severe damage to homes, schools and childcare centers. Working with partners, we're ensuring families have the essential items they need and are focused on helping kids get back to learning as quickly as possible.
Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. Your donations go directly to our Ready Reserve Fund, a resource always at the ready for Team Rubicon to launch operations efficiently to serve communities as quickly as possible. Right now, your immediate support is crucial as hurricanes bring unprecedented destruction across the Southeast US. From Helene to Milton and beyond, your donations help ensure local Greyshirt volunteers can respond at a moment's notice and stay long-term to help these communities recover and rebuild.
United Way has quickly mobilized to bring relief to the communities affected, leveraging deep-rooted community partnerships to deliver critical resources and support. Together, we’re activating ongoing rescue and recovery efforts across these areas, leveraging the power of collective action in the face of disaster.
WCK is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Chef Relief Team mobilizes to the frontlines with the urgency of now to start cooking and provide meals to people in need.
Americares is responding to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton with teams on the ground across the southeastern U.S. We respond to more than 35 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establish long-term recovery projects and bring disaster-preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. Your support makes all the difference in our ability to respond rapidly in times of crisis.
ACS Disaster Response is actively responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. We are setting up relief centers where people can receive essential supplies. Your contributions, prayers, and support make a real difference. Together, we can bring hope and healing to the affected communities.
All Hands and Hearts in response to Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene’s ongoing devastation, we’ve set out to raise $3 million to support the long-term recovery of communities facing these back-to-back disasters.