How to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene

On Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida – but the widespread damage didn’t stop in the Sunshine State. The storm raged on northward for 800 miles, affecting the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and other states.

According to the National Weather Service Tallahassee, winds reached 140 mph and storm surge levels were estimated to reach 15 feet as the Category 4 hurricane wreaked havoc on the southwest. More than 100 deaths have been attributed to the storm, with more than 2 million homes and businesses left without power.

In North Carolina, high water has inundated Asheville and surrounding cities, trapping residents in their homes without lights and food. Flooded roads are also making passage near-impossible for rescue workers.

Several organizations are on the ground to assist residents as they begin the recovery process. Local community members that are eager to help the recovery efforts assisting the hurricane’s victims may be interested in supporting one or more of the nonprofits delivering aid listed here. The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana provides this list as a starting point for those wishing to learn more about how to assist and has verified that each organization listed here is a U.S. 501c3 public charity.

We will continue to update this list as we learn more in the coming days.

The East Tennessee Foundation

The East Tennessee Foundation is responding to the disaster by opening its Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund. Exclusively aiding East Tennessee, this fund provides prompt and effective grants to empower local nonprofits and agencies to rescue and recover their own communities amid devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene.

To donate to the East Tennessee Foundation’s disaster relief fund, please click here.

North Carolina Community Foundation

Community foundations and many other organizations across North Carolina are collaborating to support Western North Carolina after the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene.

To support ongoing recovery needs, the Foundation is encouraging donors to give to the Community Foundation for Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund. To give to that fund, please click here.

To support long-term recovery, the Foundation is encouraging donors to give to the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund by clicking here.

Community Foundation of North Florida

The Community Foundation of North Florida (CFNF) has activated a disaster relief fund for Hurricane Idalia, Debby and Helene.  This fund will assist those in our service area most impacted by these disasters, specifically Madison and Taylor counties.  Activation of this fund allows CFNF to work with long-term recovery groups and area nonprofits serving victims and their families who have been most impacted by all three storms.

To give to the Community Foundation of North Florida’s Disaster Relief Fund, please click here.

Community Foundation of North Central Florida

The NCF Cares Fund will strategically deploy resources to community-based organizations that are working on disaster relief in North Central Florida. The purpose of the fund is for long-term rebuilding after a disaster. The fund is currently collecting donations for Hurricane Helene long-term recovery and relief for Gilchrist, Levy and Dixie Counties.

To give to the NCF Cares Fund, please click here.

Community Foundation of Central Georgia

Established following Hurricane Helene in 2024, the Coffee County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund will support the disaster relief and recovery needs of the Coffee County community in partnership with the Community Foundation of Coffee County.

To give to the Coffee County Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund, please click here.

Community Foundation of South Georgia / Greater Valdosta United Way

The Community Foundation of South Georgia is encouraging donors to send their support to the Greater Valdosta United Way Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.

To give to the Greater Valdosta United Way Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, please click here.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is on the ground helping people who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

To help people affected by Hurricane Helene through the American Red Cross, please click here.