How to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene (Updated 10/15)

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.

WaterStep (Louisville, KY)

WaterStep provides safe water to people in the greatest need – both to communities that have never had it and those who have lost it in disasters. The WaterStep team is partnering with the Asheville Dream Center and others to provide safe water and disinfectant to those people affected by Hurricane Helene. They are also busy training volunteers on their equipment to ensure this is a sustainable response for the immediate future.

To donate to WaterStep and their clean water initiative, please click here.

BeLoved Asheville

BeLoved Asheville is dedicating every resource to those most affected by Hurricane Helene. Their immediate focus has been on critical necessities like food, water, and healthcare for survival and stability. As winter looms, they are securing warm and safe housing for the displaced. Looking further ahead, recovery from the vast destruction will be a large-scale investment over several years. They believe that they can unite to rebuild a community that embodies home, health, equity, and opportunity for all. 

To donate to BeLoved Asheville, please click here.

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.

Additional Local Funds (provided by Indiana Philanthropy Alliance)

• Appalachia Funders Network | Appalachian Helene Response Fund
• Central Carolina Community Foundation | One SC Fund
• Collaboratory | Rebuild Southwest Florida – Coordinating a Resilient Region
• Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area | Helene Emergency Response Fund
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County | Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
• Community Foundation Tampa Bay | Rapid Response Fund
• Community Foundation of Western North Carolina | Emergency & Disaster Response Fund
• Manatee Community Foundation | MCF Disaster Relief Fund
• Pinellas Community Foundation | Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund
• Spartanburg County Foundation | Disaster Relief Fund
• Waccamaw Community Foundation | WCF Disaster Relief Fund
• The Community Foundation of Collier County
• The Gulf Coast Community Foundation