As a proud North Carolinian, my heart is breaking for the beautiful western part of our state devastated by Hurricane Helene. So many of our mountain communities have been ravaged and our neighbors are in desperate need of help.
I”ll be honest, we’re feeling helpless over here. We’ve made donations and dropped off supplies but we want to do more. We designed this t-shirt, now available for pre-sale, so you can show your support for this region. We will donate 100% of the proceeds to the organizations below.
If t-shirts aren’t your thing, please consider making donations to one of the organizations below.
General Assistance
Monetary donations are often the easiest and fastest way to help your community. If you are interested in helping on a bigger stage, we recommend donating to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Amazing organizations doing nationwide work include the Red Cross and United Way.
Here are some organizations on the ground that are doing critical work in western North Carolina:
Food and Diaper Banks
There are several specific food banks in the Asheville area, such as MANNA FoodBank, but with widespread flood damage and road closures, Food Banks across the state have launched a shared fund dedicated to disaster relief efforts. By donating for Feeding the Carolinas, you are providing food assistance to those in 25 affected counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
We can’t forget the babies! NC Diaper Bank is on a mission to increase access to essential hygiene items to promote dignity, health, and quality of life for the people of North Carolina. They are joined by Babies Need Bottoms who work in partnership with community-based organizations to provide diapering supplies for families facing diaper needs in Western North Carolina since 2017.
On The Ground
With many roads swept away by the storm, air assistance is the only way in. Operation Airdrop is mobilizing private planes and helicopters to deliver essential supplies, hot meals, and support to communities affected by the storm.
On-the-ground volunteers with the non-profit BeLoved Asheville are collecting and distributing a wide array of supplies. The best way to give directly to them is through Venmo or PayPal. Their Facebook page is filled with videos of a community coming together at a time when community is needed most.
Lastly, Hearts with Hands is an Asheville-based organization that has been supplying food and essentials to Buncombe County shelters.
Alternate Ways To Help
If you are a Raleigh native like us, here are a few local organizations that are doing donation drives that you can assist with today. Another huge help is by donating blood, the Blood Connection is a local blood bank that is looking to replenish its supply in western NC.
We know these are just a few of THE MANY organizations that are doing incredible work in western North Carolina and beyond. Feel free to share more of your favorites in the comments. Thank you for your support.
